Journal <>f Proceediuffs. li 



have a circumference of more than 20 feet. In the fissures of the brick- 

 work of the Church, the pretty ivy-leaved toadflax (IJnaria Cymbalaria) 

 grew freely. Springing from the tower above us was a tree (which the 

 villagers declare to be an elder), probably the result of the growth of a 

 seed conveyed tkither by a bird. 



The chief features of interest in the Church were pointed out by Mr. 

 Chancellor. It contains a remarkably perfect pulpit, dating from the 

 time of Henry the Eighth. In design and execution it is like a very fine 

 example of perpendicular work, and of it Mr. Chancellor remarked that 

 he did not know of another in Essex which was so perfect, so complete, 

 and in design so beautiful. The chancel arch came in for a great deal of 

 notice. It is evident that a narrower chancel arch at one time existed, — 

 probably Norman,— and it is well known that the Norman chancel arches 

 in Essex churches were often very narrow. The present arch has been 

 formed by cutting away the narrower arch and so enlarging it. Over the 

 centre, facing the altar, is a curious arched recess, the purpose of which 

 was not explained, though it looks as if it had been intended to hold an 

 image. A few words were also devoted to the small pieces of coloured 

 glass inserted in the east window, which Mr. Chancellor deemed to be 

 probably original, and attention was called to the centre shield, bearing 

 the device of the St. Clere family, monuments of whom are in Danbury 

 Church. Greater interest still was shown when the speaker directed 

 attention to what is known as a " leper window," or " low side window," 

 as to the purpose of which archaeologists are divided. One theory is that 

 these windows were contrived to allow of the administration of the 

 Sacrament to the lepers, who were not allowed inside the church. 

 Another is that they were intended to permit the sacristan to hold the 

 bell outside and ring it at the consecration of the elements, to convey to 

 the village information of the performance of the rite. The point was 

 freely discussed at a late meeting of the Essex Archasological Society, and 

 is yet far from settled. Mr. Chancellor described the tower of the church 

 as a very fine specimen of the many brick towers constructed in this 

 county in the time of Henry the Seventh and Henry the Eighth. And 

 he added, in words that would make the builders of to-day blush, if a 

 man with the power to blush could be a nineteenth-century builder, that 

 the brickwork was extremely good, " as all the brickwork of that time 

 was." Attention was also called to some curious mural brasses, one of 

 them with the date obliterated, bearing a quaint inscription to the 

 memory of " Patrick Hearn Clark, late parson of this parish of Sandon." 

 Leaving Sandon, the party followed the road which winds up the 

 Danbury heights, through charming country, the prospect of which 

 widened as the elevation increased, giving fine glimpses of sylvan 

 scenery. Mr. Gibbs pointed out a bank by the roadside, on the rising 

 ground quitting Sandon, as a station for Claytonia perfoUata, Don, a 

 North American plant, sometimes found in a semi-wild state. Mr. Gibbs 

 states, " It was in May, 1858, that my friend, the late Mr. Edward 



