40 
THE ESSEX NATURALIST. 
Others, who were unable to leave town earlier, travelled down by early 
afternoon trains and joined the main party in the meadows near Abridge. 
The route taken, some six miles long in all, was designedly by field- 
paths and bridle-paths and by the river banks, roads being avoided as far 
as possible. During the ramble, several portions of the narrow mediaeval 
highway from London to Harlow, now long since disused by travellers, 
and in places overgrown, were explored. 
At the picturesque old church of All Saints, at Iheydon Garnon, the 
visitors were received and welcomed by the rector, the Rev. W. P. Rowley, 
and here a brief account of the architectural history of the fabric and of 
the interesting Priest’s House in the churchyard was given by Mr. Percy 
Thompson. The wish was voiced that steps might be taken in the County 
to raise a fund to restore the old Priest’s House, now in a deplorable state 
of dilapidation, before it fell into actual ruin. 
The registers and the contents of the fine iron-bound oak church chest, 
where inspected with much interest. 
Leaving the church, after thanks had been tendered to Mr. Rowley 
for his kindly welcome, the Party picnicked in the mediaeval roadway 
before mentioned, and later made its way across country to the Roding 
meadows, where a number of riverside plants were noted and gathered. 
Notwithstanding the exceptional drought, which had persisted from 
early spring until only a week before the excursion, no less than seventy- 
seven wild plants, actually in flower, were recorded during the day’s ramble. 
None of these were noteworthy rarities, however. 
On arrival at Abridge the preparation of tea was expedited in deference 
to the feelings of some of the weaker members of the party, who were chilled 
by the persistent wind. 
After tea a short formal meeting of the Club was held, with the Presi¬ 
dent in the chair, when 
Mr. H. S. Cousens, M.A., of 60, Croftdown Road, Highgate Road, N.W.$ t 
Mr. Arthur C. Guppy, of The Coppice, Hutton, and 
Mr. C. Rix Jeyes, of The Lindens, Hutton, 
were elected to membership, and three additional candidates were 
nominated. The President alluded to the presence with the party of a 
distinguished visitor, Dr. R. Lloyd Praeger, of Dublin, and of our honorary 
member. Dr. A. Smith Woodward, President of the Linnean Society. 
The homeward journey from Abridge, by field-path and bridle-path 
to Chigwell Lane Station, was undertaken in a drizzle of rain which had 
now set in ; a few more plants were collected, and the ponds and swamps 
en route were tried for microscopic life, but failed to yield any noteworthy 
“ takes ” ; a small pit in the Roding Valley gravel was visited by a few of 
the party, and specimens of Hertfordshire conglomerate, Bunter quart¬ 
zites, and Carboniferous sandstone were noted. 
The up-train was caught at Chigwell Lane at 7.5 o’clock, and so con¬ 
cluded a pleasant day’s excursion in spite of somewhat bleak climatal 
conditions. 
