REPORT OF THE FIELD CLUB 
25 
away.’ It was one of the Saxon edifices which were built east 
and west of the Lea Valley in the reign of Edward the Confessor. 
It contains two brasses, a fine monument to Sir Edward Baesh, 
Queen Elizabeth’s Victualler to the Navy, and some fragments 
of old stained glass. Originally of very small dimensions, it has 
been twice or thrice enlarged (lengthened and widened) and a 
tower added. Proceeding through the fields to Roydon, a very 
fine cedar, standing in the centre of a field, was noticed. The 
Church at Roydon has little architectural merit, being a typical 
Essex church, though delightfully situated. Its chief features 
of interest are three brasses, a 13th century font, and many fine 
hatchments in unusually good preservation. Tea was obtained 
at the ‘ Temple ’ Inn (Roydon was a possession of the Knights 
Templars, hence the sign), and afterwards a walk down a steep 
hill brought the members to Nether Hall, a fine specimen of 
early Tudor brickwork. It was noticed that the west wing of 
this noble gateway was in a very perilous condition, being a 
mere shell o’ermantled with the destroyer, ivy, and it was felt 
that some step should be taken without delay to buttress and 
stay this, as its fall would not only spoil the symmetry of the 
ruin but possibly endanger the other tower. A pleasant walk 
across the fields and by the banks of the Stour and Lea brought 
the party back to the station, and, as Pepys has it, ‘ so home.’ ” 
Mr. E. A. Martin was not favoured by the clerk of the 
weather when, on August 19, he gave up his time to accompany 
the members of the Club for the third time during the season. 
The starting place was Cheam, and the path followed was 
through Nonsuch Park. It was one of those blazing days 
when Nature seems to lie dormant. The ground was parched, 
the grass dried up and everything existed rather than lived. 
Another famous garden, that of G. F. Wilson, Esq., F.R.S., 
at Wisley, was kindly thrown open by him to our members on 
August 26. Dr. Wilson, of Weybridge, was the guide, and the 
lake-borders, rock plants, lilies and grasses excited general 
admiration. Photographic “ snap-shots ” taken at the time, 
and kindly forwarded by Dr. Wilson are alone sufficient to cause 
regret to those who were unable to be present. 
September 2 was unfortunately very wet, but those few 
members who did essay the walk from Leatherhead to Mickleham 
vid Norbury Park, under the guidance of Mr. Wilkinson, had 
no reason to regret their decision. The views obtained en route 
were most striking, but as the greater part of the distance was 
through an open park not many flowers were met with. It was 
noticed that the river Mole was quite dry in places, the stream 
running in time of drought through its underground channels, 
called “ The Swallows.” 
Mr. E. A. Martin conducted a party on September 16 from 
Belmont across the Belmont Downs to Banstead. The weather 
was again unpropitious, and the guide’s report might be summed 
up in the words: “blackberries plentiful; rain more so.” A 
