48 THE "HOLY THORN" AT WOODHAM FERRERS, ESSEX.
After we had gazed at the spot where the Uphall Pit had once been, Mr.
Walter Crouch kindly volunteered to show any members interested in archaeology
the remains of Uphall Camp, which is on a terrace of river-gravel on the
eastern bank of the Roding, north of Barking. Most of the party accompanied
Mr. Crouch to the mound close to the farmhouse, from which an excellent
view was obtained of the dwindling remains of this old camp, probably, as our
director remarked, of Roman age. The site is certainly such as the Romans
frequently selected. For their object was to ensure domination over a district by
means of camps mostly situated in fertile and populous districts, while that of
the prehistoric constructors of earthworks was to secure places of refuge from
forays and invasions on sites of the greatest natural strength.
The Camp was visited by the Essex Field Club in 1885 (see Journal of
Proceedings, E.F.C, vol. iv, p. cxlviii.)
T. V. Holmes.
THE "HOLY THORN" AT WOODHAM
FERRERS, ESSEX.
"Blossoms at Christmas, mindful of our Lord."
A PARAGRAPH appeared in the London "Standard'' of January 16th,
relating a somewhat wonderful story that on Old Christmas Eve a number
of persons went on a pilgrimage to the parish of Woodham Ferrers to
"witness the bursting into leaf of a bush, locally known as the 'Holy Thorn.'
It is a fact that at midnight the bush did burst into leaf. The peculiar features
of the phenomenon are that the bush assumes its normal condition a few hours
afterwards, and breaks forth with renewed vigour in the spring."
The Rev. C. P. Plumtree, rector of Woodham Ferrers, afterwards wrote to
the "Standard" as follows:
" I find that there is a certain foundation in fact for the strange circumstance?
related. There is an old tree, or large thorn bush, locally called the 'Holy
Thorn,' standing in a hedgerow, in a somewhat distant part of the parish. This
tree is visited by more or fewer persons each year on the eve of January 5th.
I have inquired of neighbours on the spot, and they tell me that it produces buds
and green shoots in the depth of winter. Indeed, a very credible witness informed
me that he had gathered on that night this year a sprig with a small show of
green on it. Even small May blossoms have appeared at this season in some
years. I need hardly say that the statement that the tree buds and blossoms
during a certain hour on Old Christmas Eve has not and cannot be proved.
"I have myself secured a branch of this tree to-day, and find that its appear-
ance is that of ordinary thorns, only that I find the sap is more up than I should
expect after such late severe weather. I may, however, say that the people near
declare that the colder the winter the better is the show of green and flower. I
can deny the miraculous, but I cannot explain why this particular thorn should
show such vitality at such an unwonted season.
" I may, in conclusion, state that the thorn is in a decidedly exposed situation ;
that it is certainly of considerable age; that I can hear of no legend or story in
connection with it ; nor can I find out anything of its origin."
A large number of letters appeared in the "Standard" and some of the county-
papers, giving some very interesting particulars of these thorns in various parts
of the kingdom. Of course, the well-known "Holy Thorn" of Glastonbury
Abbey was referred to, an excellent account of the legends connected with which
will be found in the "Proceedings of the Somersetshire Archaeological and