I am afraid I have rather digressed from the main purpose of this little work in relating some of the deeds of this sturdy abbot, but I think the brief relation of these may be of some interest as an illustration of the social and religious conditions of Waltham in mediæval times and of the wonderful power wielded by these old ecclesiastical potentates.
Now to resume the broken thread. The remaining fragment of the conventual buildings to which I have alluded above consists of a beautiful little chamber, often spoken of as “an architectural gem,” which stands in the Abbey gardens. It is locally known by the undignified appellation of the “potato cellar,” due to its irreverent use in modern times. It consists of a small longitudinal apartment, with a beautifully groined ceiling and quadripartite vaulting. It is 29 feet long, running north and south, and has two doorways, one of which is blocked up. It is considered to have been either the fratry or an antechamber to the abbot’s mansion, in which the monks assembled preparatory to the procession to the church.
One passes from the churchyard to the market-place—another interesting corner of the old town—by an ancient lych-gate, adjacent to the Harp Inn, which is peculiarly interesting as being probably the oldest existing relic of domestic architecture directly connected with the Abbey, and has from very early times formed the main entrance to the church.
Turning sharp to the left, into Sun Street, one is soon in the old main road that runs from London, by Walthamstow, Chingford, and Sewardstone, to Nazeing, Roydon, etc. To the left, round by the New Inn, the fine old wall of the Abbey gardens comes into view, and midway along its extent will be noticed the sign of the cross and a lozenge (probably a sign indicative of the Trinity) inserted in black brick. The remains of the moat, which, with the mill stream, completely surrounded the Abbey, will also be seen.
Retracing our steps towards London, a few yards beyond the entry of Sun Street, will be noticed an old house jutting upon the street, with stucco and “roughcast” exterior, the entrance to which is by a gate in the adjoining garden wall. This was the home of John Foxe, the martyrologist, and here he wrote the famous “Book of Martyrs.” It is said that Cranmer also occupied this house when resident in Waltham. Its interior presents many interesting features. In the garden is a tulip tree, which is probably a descendant of a fine specimen of this arboreal rarity, which flourished for centuries in the old Abbey gardens. This tree is said to have been one of the largest and finest of its kind in all England. Its fame is perpetuated by two finely carved chairs, made out of the wood of the old tree, which stand within the sacrarium of the Abbey church.