THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 
1 1 5 
By the kindness of our member, Mr. John Phelp, Plates from photographs 
of this celebrated “ Brass" and of the School-House are inserted in the 
present number (see p. 125). The altar plate, which was exhibited and 
explained by the Vicar, is sixteenth century, of beautiful design and 
workmanship, and is believed to be one of the best sets in Essex. 
Luncheon was taken in the Chester Room of the “ King’s Head " 
Inn, opposite the Church. This picturesque old hostelry is, as all Essex 
folk know, the “ Maypole ” of Dickens’ Barnaby Rudge, and the building 
and gardens are well worthy of inspection. A stroll down Hall Lane to 
the “ White Bridge ’’ over the river Roding enabled those coming by 
field paths from Loughton to join the company. Some time was spent 
in collecting plants and insects, and in inspecting the Chigwell Moat, a 
small square enclosure without any trace of buildings, surrounded by a 
moat, as to which not even a local legend exists. 
On returning to the village, the Club was most kindly entertained at 
tea by Mrs. Wall, at " Brook House," and afterwards a short meeting 
(the 407th) was held, Mr. J. C. Shenstone, F.L.S. Vice-President , in the 
chair. The following were elected members :— 
Mr. J. R. Airey, M.A., B.Sc., Principal of the West Ham Technical 
Institute, 73, Claremont Road, Forest Gate, E. 
Mrs. J. R. Airey, 73, Claremont Road, Forest Gate, E. 
A hearty vote of thanks was passed to our kind hosts, and an in¬ 
spection of the house enabled the visitors to see some very good 17th cen¬ 
tury oak-panelling, which had been recently exposed from its coating 
of plaster. Then the party walked by a field path to the cutting of the 
loop railway line between Chigwell and Grange Hill Stations, to inspect, 
by permission of the G.E.R., the section (now somewhat defaced by slips), 
at about 200 ft. O.D., of the high-level gravel of the Valley Drift. 
MEETING IN THE ARKESDEN AND ELMDON DISTRICT 
(THE CHALK DOWNS OF ESSEX).—THE 408th MEETING. 
Saturday, 22ND June 1912. 
This meeting was organised by Mr. Guy Maynard, Curator of the 
Saffron Walden Museum, and Mr. G. Morris, B.Sc., of the Friends’ School. 
Other conductors were Mr. L. F. Newman, of the School of Agriculture, 
Cambridge, Mr. Whitaker, F.R.S., and Mr. J. T. Wilkes, J.P. 
The geology and botany of the district are of considerable interest, 
and, aided by fine weather, a most enjoyable day was spent. 
The London party arrived at Audley End station by slip carriage 
attached to the 8.40 express from Liverpool Street, and being met by the 
county members, proceeded by brakes to Newport, where Mr. Whitaker 
made a few remarks on the interesting well boring at Newport Grammar 
School. Here, although the Chalk was expected at a moderate depth 
from the surface, yet no less than 340 feet of drift sands and clays were 
pierced without its being reached, the bottom of the bore being 138 feet 
below the present sea level when it was abandoned. The evidence of 
other local wells also pointed to the existence of an ancient gorge or river 
channel running through the district, which was filled up with drift sands 
and clays probably during the Glacial Period. Proceeding to Wicken 
Bonhunt, the little wayside chapel of St. Helen, now used as a stable. 
