THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
215
no doubt that he had a strong predisposition to see 'Druidical' remains in many of
the ancient earthworks which he visited. But however visionary his theories, I
have no doubt that he actually saw something worthy of note on Navestock Common,
He has left a drawing of the supposed 'temple,' of which we have been fortunate
enough to secure a copy, through our old friend, Mr. Walter Crouch. What
the doctor actually saw, it is now impossible to decide, but I am disposed to
think that some kind of an entrenchment was here, of which a great portion has been
filled in and levelled by cultivation, and by the construction of the road which runs
alongside of it. The remnant before you was seen by the ordnance surveyors of
this district and is distinctly entered on the 6-inch map as an excavation, but,
wisely, without note or comment. Our reasons for identifying this with Stukeley's
site are that it agrees in all respects with his description. He says it was situated
on elevated ground on a wild and open common ; that it was on the dyke
separating the Hundred of Ongar from the Hundred of Chafford ; that St. Paul's
could be seen from it and that a windmill was near. The dyke separating the
Hundreds runs along the bottom of this field ; in Stukeley's time this was a wild
and open common and less than a mile to the east stood Bentley Mill. The belt
of trees now shutting out the view towards London, was not there when Stukeley
visited the place : in the old ordnance map this copse, now called the Mores, is
entered as the 'New Plantation.' My colleague, Mr. Goode Hore, discovered
this excavation and drew my attention to it ; if we are right in locating Stukeley's
'temple' here it is certainly an interesting rediscovery of a lost site. That there
was an entrenchment where the present fosse now runs, will not be doubted by
those experts who are accustomed to the appearance of such ancient excavations.1
The 'alate' form has probably been exaggerated in Stukeley's drawing in order to
emphasise his theories."
The carriages were then re-entered, and the drive was continued by Navestock
Side to the summer-house in Navestock Park (not far from Dudbrooke House)
near the site of the hall, demolished in 1811, the new Dudbrooke House having
been built about a mile away. Here the party met with a cordial reception at the
hands of Mr. and Mrs. D. P. Sellar, who are now living at Dudbrook, and who
had most kindly provided a sumptuous luncheon in a marquee erected near the
summer-house, from whence charming views were obtained of the park, of the
lake, and of the beautiful and well-wooded country beyond.
Mr. and Mrs. Sellars having welcomed the guests, were obliged to leave, owing
to another engagement, but they were not allowed to go before a hearty vote of
thanks had been tendered to them by the President, Mr. Chancellor, on behalf of
the company.
An Ordinary Meeting of the club (the 150th) was then held, the President in
the chair.
Mrs. Horace T. Brown was elected a member.
The Secretary stated that he had received a letter from the City Solicitor say-
ing that the Epping Forest Committee had granted the application of the Club
with regard to the establishment of a small local museum, to illustrate the natural
history and archaeology of Epping Forest, in the Queen Elizabeth's Lodge, at
Chingford, subject to an agreement to be entered into between the parties, the
draft of which the City Solicitor would prepare and submit to the Council of the
Club.
1 The "Temple" is distinctly described as an earthwork in the "Diaries''; no stone is mentioned.