THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 



351 



past j^reatness. The " i^reac j^loiy of Thaxted is its church, a splendid structure, 

 which well deserves the descri])ti()ii applied to it of ' the cathedral of Essex,' 

 there being (if we except Waltham Abbey Church) no other of ecjual magniticence 

 in the county." The Vicar (the Rev. L. S. Westall), Mr. F. Chancellor, and 

 Mr. Miller Christy acted as guides here, and a very considerable time was 

 occupied in the church, and in viewing the many quaint timbered and plastered 

 houses in the town. Samuel Purchas, author of the celebrated book of Pil<nim- 

 ages, was born at Thaxted in 1577. 



Carriages and cycles were resumed to reach Horham Hall, situate in the 

 parish, where the now large party was most kindly received by our kind host and 

 hostess, Mr. and Mrs. Cranmer-Byng. The hall, to quote again from Mr. 

 Christy " though much modernised and reduced, is still a remarkably tine 

 •example of the style of residence which came in when the grim feudal castle went 

 ■out of fashion. It is of brick, and the whole forms a venerable and picturesque 

 pile of gables, turrets, battlemented parapets, ornamental chimneys and bav 

 windows. The entrance-hall is still just as it was built ; the remains of a gate- 

 house may be traced, and part of the old Moat still remanis. It was built by Sir 

 John Cutte, who died in 1520, and was for long after famed for its splendour and 

 hospitality. Queen Elizabeth, betore her accession, resided here for a time, and 

 in 1571, when on a tour through the county, was entertained by its owner." 



Luncheon was served in the ancient hall, and Mr. Cranmer-Byng, as chairman, 

 gave a most entertaining account of the house, and the memories and traditions 

 attaching to it. Afterwards Mr. Chancellor read a paper on its archaeological 

 and architectural history, followed by Mr. Miller Christy and Mr. Gould. This 

 paper and discussion must be reserved for the present. 



The afternoon was most pleasantly spent in the grounds, under our hosts' 

 genial guidance. The county about the hall appears to be delightful, and likely 

 to be of the greatest interest to the naturalist. 



Bidding farewell to our kind friends, the return journey was taken by way of 

 Elsenham, where a section of the party stayed for tea and to catch the return 

 train. Others continued the drive back to Saffron Walden, and after tea at the 

 inn spent the remainder of the evening in exploring the town and visiting the 

 Museum. 



[The Editor regrets that his slight acquaintance with the district and the want 

 ■of space compel but a very meagre and unsatisfactory account of a most pleasant 

 and instructive holiday. It is to be hoped that anothet meeting in the beautiful 

 Thaxted country may be held in the near future, and that this may afford oppor- 

 tunities for descriptive accounts from some ot our members having special know- 

 ledge of the district — and there are many wdth such qualifications.] 



INSPECTION OF HAINHAULT AND LAMBOURNE FOREST. 



Saturday, June /\th, 1904. 



This was the third official visit of the Club to the newlv-recovered lands of 

 old Hainhault Forest, and it w^as held again under [the direction of ]\Ir. E. N. 

 Buxton and by the kind permission of the Parks and Open Spaces Committee of 

 the London County Council. 



The two previous meetings on June 14th, 1902, and June bth, 1903, were 

 fully reported in the present volume of the Essex Naturalist {(iiite pp. 30 — 32, 



