Beeleigh Abbey Visit
Chairman Curt Brown organised a visit to Beeleigh Abbey near Maldon on Saturday, 2nd February.
30 Members turned up on a dry but cold day when the rest of England was
experiencing snow and were led into the Dorter Undercroft or the more aptly named
Warming House as it sported a lovely large log fire.
Danbury Society Members filing into Beeleigh Abbey.
Mr Christopher Foyle welcomed us & with his Wife supplied tea, coffee & biscuits.
He then told us the history of the Abbey starting with the fact that room we were standing
in was dated about 1220 and was obviously of Norman build using Purbeck Marble columns
supporting a Vaulted Roof (in near perfect condition) in-filled with Reigate Stone.
Originally it was a Monastery of the Premonstratensian Order or White Order as they wore
white habits - they were not quite as strict as Monks.
Christopher ran through the centuries and gave fascinating stories of the "comings & goings" at the Abbey,
finishing with the fact that Mr Foyle purchased it in 1943 and moved in 2 years later.
He said that as children he loved being invited to the Abbey and being introduced the
"high living life" in the country.
When Miss Foyle died in 1999 he purchased it from her Estate & began a 4 year period of
restoration beginning with a completely new roof and rebuilding the chimneys.
He also purchased part of the Library - the remainder being sold at Christies.
Central Heating was installed sympathetically as was a new stone floor.
We were then shown through to the Chapel where a rebuilt Organ stood which was reputed
to have been used by Handel to compose his Largo - much to the delight of everyone, Jenny Sharpe
played part of it using the Electric Pump (newly commissioned). It sounded lovely as it
echoed along the stone walls.
Upstairs we were shown a very old bed (James 1st, 1604?) which, as many were in those days, too small
to sleep in today.
When the skilled Carpenters were about to extend it the top piece crashed down - and was so poorly
supported could have done so at any time during the past 400 years!
Fire must be a major concern for such an old & famous building but there was evidence of Fire
Sensors & Fire Alarms.
After concluding our guided tour of the Abbey we were invited to look around the extensive gardens passing the
newer side of the house..
A modern extension to the Abbey.
A Peacock stands guard.
The River Blackwater looking towards Beeleigh Falls.
The River Blackwater at this point is tidal up to the Beeleigh Falls where it becomes the
Chelmer Navigation Canal.
Thank you Mr & Mrs Foyle for opening your lovely house to the Danbury Society.
"A New Zealand Adventure" by
Mr Dudley Chignall
Thursday, 27th March 2008
in the Church Meeting Room.
Curt introduced Dudley, seen here standing by his laptop, digital projector showing a "Cauliflower Sheep".
Dudley & Curt Brown, Chairman (right)
Photos by John Bowen
In introducing his presentation, Dudley said that a few years ago he felt he
needed an adventure so he went to New Zealand for 42 days where he did all of the mad things that
are available to do (for money)! He left his lovely camera behind but purchased a Canon Ixus 400.
When he got back home & he say the quality of the pictures he (like us) was stunned with and
so he turned them into a slide show.
Dudley used his digital projector to show us his walks in both North & South Islands.
This includes 4 days traversing a snowy ridge in The Alps, walking between active
Volcanoes and a swim with wild Dolphins.
Part of the audience
A typical photograph of New Zealand, photograhed and prepared for viewing by Dudley
One of the many flower photos shown
A Bird of Paradise flower
He was able to convey in photographic terms why NZ is such a popular tourist
destination.
All of his photographs were of excellent quality & composition - a joy to watch.
Thank you Dudley for such an informative evening - how could you ever leave New Zealand?
After a lovely cup of tea/coffee and homemade cakes supplied
by Ivy Hare & Jean Brown, Dudley answered questions.
He was thanked by Curt & the audience showed their
appreciation with a good clap.
The Spring (Bluebell) Walk
This was on Sunday, 27th April
from the Community Centre Top Car Park at 2.15pm and was be led
by David & Wendy Moore.
The walk ended up by going to the very famous Blake's Wood
to see the Bluebells which were quite good but not as good as last year!
It is all down to the weather!
For most of the walk it was nearly dry but on the final leg it rained heavily.
An enjoyable walk - thank you David & Wendy for yet another event in the year of the Danbury Society.
The 36th Annual Art Exhibition.
This was held at the Danbury Village Hall, Eve's Corner
Bank Holiday weekend, 22nd, 23rd & 24th August.
Entrance was free but a catalogue was charged at £1.00 (good value).
The front cover of the lovely colourful Catalogue
This year the Exhibition had a number of larger canvases displayed in a more relaxed manner,
which aided viewing - a very good show.
This is a highly regarded exhibition with both framed and unframed pictures for sale,
many by local artist and further a field in Essex, showing different media and a variety of subjects.
Monies raised will help to promote the general charitable benefit of the inhabitants of the Danbury area.
The Danbury Society Annual Art Show was headed by
Glad & John Deamer and her band of willing helpers.
Photograph of one of the stands
3 large paintings which all sold.
Also on display was the lovely painting of Danbury Palace by
A.R.S.A. Artist, Keeley Halswelle & given to Hon Mrs Claughton on 11th July 1889.
Mrs Claughton was the Wife of Dr Thomas Legh Claughton, 1st Bishop of St Albans.
It was presented to the Danbury Society by Robin Campbell, the Great Grandson
of Bishop & Mrs Claughton and now lives in Scotland. See the page on
Keeley Halswelle under "Danbury Palace", above.
Thank you very much Glad & John Deamer for all the work
you put in on behalf of the Danbury Society. Thanks also
to all the Stewards & Helpers who made this, the 36th
Exhibition such a social & commercial success.
Thanks also to Bakers of Danbury, from Eves Corner who collected & returned
the Art display screens, and Bairstow Eves, Danbury Office for their tremendous support.
The Autumn Meeting
This will be on Thursday, 18th September
in the Church Meeting Room at 8pm when
Mr Stephen Nunn will present "Wartime Maldon and the Dengie Hundred".
Stephen has spent 30 years researching the district and has published a book
entitled "Maldon, The Dengie and Battles in the Skies (1939 - 1945)"
He will use this as the basis to tell us the role played by local people in Home Defence. He
now knows about the War in the Air and the 106 aircraft crashes.
The talk will unfold some of the many stories about the desperate days
of the War in the now peaceful skies over Maldon & the Dengie.
The Autumn Walk
This will be on Sunday, 19th October at 2.15pm
from the Community Centre Top Car Park - led
by David & Wendy Moore.
The weather in October in Danbury can be anything from snow to 20 degrees C!
As it is organised by the Danbury Society it is usually the latter.
Turn up with your Walking Boots and enjoy good company.
The AGM and "Living Ghosts in the Tower of London"
This will be presented by Brian D'Arcy R.V.M. on Thursday,
20th November in St John's Church Meeting Room at 8pm.
The Tower of London is like a village when the tourists leave each day. It has had
sadness, grief and death within its walls!
The Tower serves many purposes including housing Royal Residents, Royal Observatory,
Public Records Office, State Prison and of course, the Crown Jewels.
Brian became a Yeoman Warder and Curator of the Crown Jewels and lived in the
Tower for over 20 years so is well qualified to tell us about what goes on there.
He was awarded the Royal Victorian Medal in the 2000 New Year Honors List
Has he seen The Ghost - come and find out!
After the Talk the Danbury Society Committee invite the audience have a glass of
wine, cheese & biscuits with them.
The Christmas Tree at Eves Corner
For the past 20 years or so the Danbury Society Committee aided by a number of volunteers
have obtained a Chritmas Tree locally and erected it at Eves Corner. They then dressed
it with 40 bulbs and the Salvation Army have come from Maldon or Chelmsford on a night
in December and played their Silver Band and up to 140 people have sung carols.
Afterwards they have walked to the URC Meeting Rooms and enjoyed Mince Pies & Mulled Wine.
Unfortunately the Danbury Society Committee are getting older and were very upset by the part
destruction of the trees in the past two years by the louts of Danbury so felt that their
efforts were not really being appreciated.
The Danbury Parish Council have taken on the task of providing the Tree this year with a grant
from The Danbury Society.
After much effort by the Parish Clerk a Lighting Pillar has been provided. This is a
good feature as it could be used at other times.
The Danbury Society would like to thank the Parish Council for all the work involved in providing the Tree.
Please support the Danbury Society Activities
Daffodil Planting
Dave Bolwell is in charge of planting another
few hundred Daffodils in the verges around Danbury during
late September/October.
David Bolwell will identify & organise the new planting areas.
Click here to go back to the Top
Aims of The Danbury Society
To involve the residents of Danbury in interests and
pursuits to enrich village life.
To ensure that changes in the Village are undertaken with sensitivity
to the character of Danbury.
To protect the natural beauty of the local landscape and to promote
its maintenance and care.
To Work for the preservation and protection of buildings and features
of interest in Danbury.
To promote the general charitable benefit of the inhabitants of
the Danbury area by provision of such financial and/or material
benefit as the Trustees for the time being shall determine.
(Added by Charity Commission approval 2006)
Contact Information
This Web Site is hosted by
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The Danbury Society publish a Newsletter
every 4 months.
This is available to paid-up Members
The Danbury Society supports The Parish Plan.
Visit the Parish Plan Web Site:-
http://www.danburyplan.idps.co.uk
The Danbury Society supports The Parish Council.
Visit the Parish Council's Web Site for more
details:-
http://www.danbury-essex.gov.uk/
Danbury Palace Babies Contact Information
Telephone Marie Polley on 01245 356276
or Caroline Lambert on 01245 224661
Click
here to link to Danbury Park Babies Web Site
The Danbury Society Blog
The Hon. Secretary of The Danbury Society, Norman Bartlett, is running a Blog
on Danbury village matters. He tries to cover events and incidents that are
relevant to the objects of Danbury Society. Have a look for yourself at: -
http://danburysociety.blogspot.com/
You can add comments of your own to what Norman has written by clicking on
the 'comment' link at the foot of each blog.
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If you live in Danbury, please support The
Danbury Society by joining. It is only £1.00 per
household per year or £2.00 if we cannot deliver
your Newsletter on foot. See clickable link below: -
To join the Danbury
Society
To contact the Chairman: -
The Danbury Society,
Porlock, 116 Maldon Road, Danbury, CHELMSFORD. CM3 4RA
Telephone -- 01245 223306
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Click
here to e-mail Mr Curt Brown directly.
The Danbury Society Web Site Address is:-
http://www.danburysociety.idps.co.uk
