ASTRONOMY IN WANSTEAD. I5[ 



Fuller notices of this important collection may be found in Christy's " Birds 

 of Essex," pp. 23 and 36, and in a series of articles by Dr. Bree in the '• Field," 

 from September 28th to December 14th, 1867. 



Mr. Miller Christy then made a few remarks on the collection, and asked the 

 members present to join in a very cordial vote of thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Lescher 

 for their kind reception, which was enthusiastically given, and responded to by 

 Mr. Lescher. 



After a long examination of this Sne collection, the party left the hospitable 

 mansion about half-past six, the walk being continued by some over Warley 

 Common through the woods and along Thorndon Park into Brentwood, while 

 others rambled by Warley Gap, from which a remarkably fine view (certainly one 

 of the finest in Essex) was enjoyed over the Thames Valley and the Kentish 

 Hills. 



The rendezvous at Brentwood was the " White Hart " Hotel, where tea was 

 taken. This old inn is a very interesting example of an ancient hostelry, and is 

 mentioned in Miller Christy's " Trade Signs of Essex," p 52 ; and two interest- 

 ing sketches of the courtyard and corridor were published in a series of views of 

 old Brentwood, by A. B. Bamford, in 1892. 



Special thanks were voted to Mr. Harting for his kind and interesting exposi- 

 tions during trie afternoon, and the meeting dispersed. 



ASTRONOMY IN WANSTEAD: 



A CHAPTER OF ITS PAST HISTORY. 



By WALTER CROUCH, F.Z.S. (rke-Presuicni). 

 (Read 16th December, iSgj.) 



T^HERE was a period in the past history of Essex when the 

 study of astronomy was sedulously pursued by at least two 

 competent observers, and the researches then made attracted the 

 attention of all who were interested in the progress of that science. 



One of these observers was the Rev. William Derham, 

 D.I)., F.R.S., Rector of Upminster from i68y to 1735, and 

 Canon of Windsor, who even erected a platform on the tower of 

 his church (the door leading on to which may still be discerned) 

 to enable him to gain a more extended view whilst using his 

 instruments. ( F/^t' Essex Naturalist, vol. ii., p. 133.) 



But by far the more important results were obtained in " Wan- 

 stead Town " (as it is frequently called in old references), some nine 

 and a quarter miles away from Upminster as the crow flies, and 

 these form an interesting chapter of local and scientific value. 



Having long ago gathered together a consideral)'e amount of 



