THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 265 



MEETING IN THE BRAINTREE-FINCHINGF1ELD DISTRICT 



AND VISIT TO SPAINS HALL. 



Saturday, July 28th, 1906. 



This meeting had been arranged to traverse an interesting stretch of country 

 not previously visited by the Club, and to take advantage of the very hospitable 

 invitation of Mr. and Mrs. Archibald Ruggles-Brise to visit them at their fine 

 old mansion, Spain, Hall, which is so interesting and attractive to all taking an 

 interest in Tudor domestic architecture. 



The party assembled at Braintree Railway Station at a quarter to eleven, 

 where it was met by our member, the Rev. J. W. Kenworthy, Rector of 

 Braintree, under whose guidance several interesting features of the twin- 

 towns of Braintree and Bocking were inspected — particularly the many 

 picturesque Tudor and Jacobean houses in Bradford .Street, with carved 

 beams and parge-wood fronts, and the extremely picturesque old mill 

 by the bridge over the River Pant, in Bocking. Thence the conveyances were 

 resumed to Bocking Church, where the more interesting features of the fine 

 building were demonstrated by the Very Rev. J. S. Brownrigg, Dean of Bocking, 

 and Colonel G. S. Saville, J. P., one of the Churchwardens. Time would not 

 permit of a prolonged stay, and the drive of ten miles to Spains Hall was 

 resumed, the route being by way of the villages of Panfield, Shalford and 

 Wethersfield. Much of the way was through charmingly picturesque country, 

 and with perfect weather, and flower-decked lanes and hedgerows, the drive was 

 much enjoyed by all taking part in it. 



Finchingfield Church was reached at one o'clock, and here Mr. Ruggles- 

 Brise met the members. Mr. Ruggles-Brise being one of the Churchwardens 

 and thoroughly acquainted with the building, was enabled to give much informa- 

 tion, and Mr. Kenworthy ably seconded his expositions. 



At the Hall, a mile or more distant, a most kindly and hospitable welcome 

 was given to the company by Mrs. Ruggles-Brise, who led the way to the 

 luncheon table, spread on one of the lawns in the shade of the mansion Here 

 were several ladies and gentlemen of the neighbourhood, including Sir Fortescue 

 Flannery, Bart., of Wethersfield Manor, Colonel Gordon, of Wethersfield Place, 

 and the ladies of the family. 



After lunch, the members were invited to inspect the fine old Tudor mansion 

 and its extensive and beautiful grounds. In the latter are the seven fish-ponds — 

 now all dry, except one — dug by William Kemp, a former owner of the estate, 

 about the year 1620, one being made by him during each of the seven years of 

 silence which he imposed upon himself as a penalty for a hasty word to his wife. 

 Among much beautiful timber, one lime tree of exceptional size and three fine 

 cedars, growing close to the house, were greatly admired. 



Leaving the gardens, the dairy -probably the largest and best equipped in 

 East Anglia — was visited. An extremely fine herd of no fewer than fifty pure- 

 bred Alderney cows is kept, and as much as 250 lbs. of butter have been 

 made in one week, 



Miss Ruggles-Brise's stable of no fewer than fourteen pedigree donkeys was 

 next inspected, and her singularly skilful exhibition of driving a four-in-hand team 

 of well-bred donkeys formed one of the most original and charming features of 

 the day. 



The mansion was also viewed, within and without, under the guidance of our 

 hosts. Though not large, it is an extremely good and pure example of a 



