This fireplace is in an upstairs room of the farmhouse Saffron Gardens, at Horndon, part of which dates from the 16th century. The name refers to the cultivation of saffron, as at Saffron Walden. A fireplace now in an upstairs room was painted over so darkly that it is difficult to distinguish the coat of arms which makes up the cast iron object. They are the arms of the Rich family: a chevron between three crosses with knobs on; the crest is a wyvern (a Welsh dragon), wings raised, standing on a mount.
Lord Rich was Lord Chancellor to Queen Elizabeth and founded Felsted School. There is a fine monument with this coat of arms on it in Felsted church. This coat of arms is depicted in the heraldic Visitations of Essex of 1612. How do they come to be in Horndon?

The story begins in 1510 when Margaret, daughter of Sir Edmund Shaa who lived at nearby Arden Hall, married Thomas Rich a member of the famous family. Margaret and Thomas’s grandson was Edward Rich of Horndon on the Hill who died at Saffron Gardens in 1599. Edward Rich, Justice of the Peace, must have been the `Master Rich` who had the honour of entertaining Queen Elizabeth when she visited Tilbury at the time of the Armada. Even Thurrock can boast Queen Elizabeth slept here!

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