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Enjoying the queen of games

Croquet was all the rage in the 1860s. The Earl of Essex held lavish croquet parties at Cassiobury House (in Hertfordshire!), launched his own Cassiobury brand croquet set and in 1865 a variation on the then normal game was promoted in the ‘Rules of the Eglinton Castle and Cassiobury Croquet’ – including bells on the hoops and two tunnels! Our croquet lawn is now in regular use  by Dunmow U3A Croquet Club who play the classic game!

It was a busy day, with a visit from Henry Girling, friend and colleague of Maynard Greville and still an active arboricultural consultant and fellow of the Arboricultural Association, and his wife, Janet, who learned her trade at Studley Horticultural College for Ladies, which was founded by the Countess of Warwick in the 1890s! We also had a visit from the regional Landscape Architect at Historic England and a group visit by Braintree and Bocking Trefoil Guild.

Some gardening got done too!!