202
THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
Exploration of the Deneholes in Hangman's Wood, near Grays
Thurrock, Essex.
" The Walrus and the Carpenter
Were walking close at hand ;
They wept like anything to see
Such quantities of sand :
' If this were only cleared away'
They said, ' it would be grand.'
" ' If seven maids with seven mops
Swept it for half a year,
Do you suppose,' the Walrus said,
' That they could get it clear ?'
' I doubt it' said the Carpenter,
And shed a bitter tear.''
"Through the Looking-Glass."
At a Meeting in Grays, as long ago as May, 1881, the attention of the Club
was directed to the Deneholes in Hangman's Wood, by Mr. Worthington
Smith, and in the report of that meeting some particulars of the pits were
given, and the desirability of systematic explorations was strongly urged by
Mr. Smith and Mr. W. Cole. (See "Journal of Proceedings," vol. ii., p.
xviii.) In 1882, two "Field Meetings" were held for the purpose of allow-
ing members and friends to visit the pits, of which meetings full reports,
summing up the principal facts then ascertained with regard to the Essex
Deneholes, will be found in our "Journal of Proceedings," vol. iii., pp. xxviii.
—xli., and pp. lvi.—lx. At the meeting of the Club on October 28th, 1882,
Mr. T. V. Holmes read a paper on "Deneholes" (Trans. E. F. C, vol. iii.,
p. 48), and it was resolved to establish a Fund for the purpose of Exploring
them. A Committee was formed, consisting of the following gentlemen :—
T. V. Holmes, F.G.S., M.A.I. (Chairman of the Committee), Prof. G. S.
Boulger, F.G.S., F.L.S., Herbert E. Brooks, B. G. Cole, W. Cole, E. A.
Fitch, F.L.S., Prof. Flower, F.R.S., A. Lockyer, Prof. R. Meldola, F.R.S.,
N. F. Roberts, F.G.S., F. W. Rudler, F.G.S., Worthington G. Smith, F.L.S.,
F. C. J. Spurrel, F.G.S., C. Thomas, F.G.S., Henry Walker, F.G.S., A.R.
Wallace, F.L.S., and Rev. W. Linton Wilson, M.A.
An illustrated circular giving some information as to the nature of the
problem to be solved, and appealing for subscriptions, was issued, and a con-
siderable sum was subscribed by members and others. The first series of
systematic explorations were carried on by Messrs. T. V. Holmes, and W.
Cole, assisted by Mr. Miller Christy and Mr. H. A. Cole, continuously during
the four weeks from October 13th to November 10th, 1884, and a preliminary
report was read at a meeting of the Club on November 29th of the same year.
Although the observations made during these explorations were of sufficient
importance as to encourage the Committee to persevere in what is allowed to
be a very difficult but deeply interesting research, it was not deemed advisable to
publish the preliminary report until some further evidence had been sought
for. Owing to the large amount of time necessary in superintending the work,
and the difficulty of obtaining efficient aid, the Committee was unable to
renew the explorations until the present year. But arrangements having been
made, the work was recommenced on Monday, September 26th, 1887, and
was continued until October 10th, the superintendence being as before let to
Messrs. Holmes and W. Cole, who were assisted by Messrs. B. G. and H. A.