THE ESSEX I'lELD CLUB. 257 



tlie old stoiy as related above, arose at this tragic scene of martyrdom. In the 

 year 1 1 18, Richard de Belmeis, Bishop of London, founded the priory, and 

 up to the time of the suppression its endowment and possessions throughout 

 the county were very considerable. After the suppression the site was 

 converted into a seat by Lord D'Arcy, son of Roger D'Arcy, of Danbury, 

 Sheriff of Essex, to members of whose family the handsome monuments and 

 effigies in the church were erected. Here Queen Elizabeth was entertained 

 in 1561 and 1579. The priory stands in a beautiful park of 250 acres, in 

 which are some fine Cedars of Lebanon, and also some old Lombardy Poplars, 

 planted in 1768 by Lord Rochfort, and supposed to be the first specimens 

 of the tree introduced into England (see Essex NATURALIST, i., 34, and ii., 

 40). The extensive remains of the old building were visited, and a magni- 

 ficent mulberr}' tree came in for some attention, but the theory that it might 

 have been planted in the da)^s of the monastery, was quickly disposed of by 

 Prof. BOULGER, who stated that the tree was unknown in this country till a much 

 later date. In the grounds was noticed a fine tulip tree, Robinia pseudacacia, and 

 a profuse "escape " of Impaticus parvijlora. And on the walls of the priory was 

 noticed Diplotaxis tenuifolia (the wild mustard), a station recorded by Varenne in 

 Gibson's " Flora of Essex." 



The visitors would gladly have lingered longer amid these delightful sur- 

 roundings so rich with historic interest, but the nineteenth century whistle of the 

 directors abruptly interrupted their old world musings, and bidding a hasty 

 farewell to this scene of mingled history and tradition a further stage in the day's 

 pilgrimage was entered upon. The return journey was made by Brightlingsea, 

 the first two miles in the brakes and the remainder on foot, over country of 

 considerable interest to the botanist and entomologist. (A few notes on the 

 entomology and botany of the district will be found in the Essex Naturalist, 

 ii., 115-116, and in Mr. Shenstone's papers in vol. i.) 



The short drive over " The Hard " and on towards the first Martello Tower, 

 disclosed a fine prospect of the mouth of the Colne with the open sea beyond, 

 and away to the right appeared little red-brick Brightlingsea, fronted by an 

 array of masts and rigging, clearly betokening the principal means whereby this 

 small town maintains its livelihood. Resting on the grass at this vantage-point 

 the company listened to some very interesting remarks by Mr. J. C Shenstone on 

 the valuable oyster fishery at Brightlingsea, where the celebrated " Colchester 

 Natives " are reared : — 



Notes on the Colne Oyster Fishery. 



By J. C. shenstone F.R.M.S., and Dr. HENRY LAYER, F.L.S. 



It is a matter of regret that Dr. Laver should have been prevented from 

 addressing us upon the subject of the Oyster Fishery to-day. Not only has he 

 taken a very practical interest in this fisherj^, but has collected notes with a view 

 of writing a full account of the subject, and would therefore have given us a 

 valuable paper. I have to thank him for lending me some of his notes, and thus 

 enabling me to address you with more confidence than I should have otherwise 

 been able to do. 



I will adopt the ordinary course and first deal with the history of the oyster : 

 I mean, of course, the history of the oyster as an edible mollusc. It is quite 

 possible, with a large number of modern food stuffs, to state accurately when they 

 were first used by man, but the only statement with regard to the introduction of 

 oysters that I know of is " That it must have been a very brave man who first 

 swallowed one of these delicate but questionable-looking morsels of flesh." 



Now my own opinion is, and possibly such of you as hold by the evolutionary 



