94
THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
specimen, with the molar teeth, measuring 33 inches in length. All these Ilford
remains were, when found, in a very brittle condition, and great care had to be
taken in extracting and hardening them in a solution of gelatine. The careful
and delicate work required was arranged by the late W. Davies, F.G.S., a zealous
and painstaking assistant in the British Museum.
Passing along southward to the pre-historic camp of Uphall, the members
were taken to the top of "Lavender Mount," close by the river Roding, by the
kind permission of Mr. Hollington. From that point of vantage Mr. Crouch
explained, with the aid of a detailed plan prepared by him some years ago, the
remaining earth works and entrenchments, and the probable course of the old
camp, the circumference of which had certainly exceeded a mile in length, enclosing
about forty-eight acres ; extending from the river to Barking Lane, and from the
farmhouse to Lowbrook. The camp in general contour and size much resembles
the well-known one at Plesby. It is somewhat square in form, and has been sup-
posed to be Roman, but only careful excavations could settle the age, and it is
hoped that an investigation will be undertaken before the earth works disappear,
as so many others near London have done. From its general form and position
it was probably a British settlement, subsequently occupied by the Romans, who
commonly adopted them as sites for their own camps. So far as he was aware,
however, no remains of any kind, such as pottery, coins, or implements, had ever
been found there, or at any rate recorded, that would in any way furnish a clue to
its origin. The earth works may still be traced for a considerable distance round
by the lane, but were much higher and more distinct some thirty years ago when
covered with grass. At the present time the action of the plough is gradually
reducing their height, and in a few years that portion will, in all probability, have
entirely disappeared. [Vide Mr. Crouch's paper, "Ancient Entrenchments at
Uphall, near Barking, Essex," in present number.]
Mr. Crouch concluded his brief sketch by saying that it was at all times a
pleasure to him to revisit this neighbourhood, having in years past spent many
happy days, not only in the house here, but in the Old Manor House at Little
Ilford, across the river.
Leaving the camp, the party proceeded by Barking Lane and Ley Street to
the brick-earth pits nearly a mile eastward of Ilford, now in course of working.
Here the interesting sections of fossiliferous brick-earth were inspected, containing
abundant "pockets" of "race," concretionary nodules, composed mainly of car-
bonate of lime, with a small percentage of phosphate and alumina.
The remains found here have been less in number, and more fragmentary than
the old "classic" finds at Uphall. A few bones of mammoth, ox, and horse taken
here were shown by Mr. Crouch, who had prepared rough sketches to show the
actual position of these bones in the skeleton. A few broken portions of bones of
mammoth and ox were found on this occasion.
At a meeting of the Geologists' Association, held here on March 25th, a search
was made for the fossil shells (non-marine) which occur sometimes in great
abundance both here and formerly at the Uphall pits. Only a few were
found, of the genera Succinea, Planorbis, Bythinia, and Pisidium, and a block
of siliceous stone, tested with the hammer, was pronounced to be a "Sarsen
boulder.''
From the pits, the foot-bridge over the railway was taken leading to the main