375 NOTES----ORIGINAL AND SELECTED.
of the latter is certainly a more eligible place from the Roman and indeed of
any point of view—as that of a British fishing village for instance. But the
people of an ancient fishing village might well have a camp of refuge from
pirates a little higher up the Roding. Pirates ascending that stream and find-
ing valuables removed would hesitate to go up higher, and withdraw. I do
not see what use a camp up the Roding could be to the Danes. It is not like
Pitsea or Shoeburyness, a situation for their fleet; and though the Danes
went up the Lea once, King Alfred blocked up the passage, and they had to
cross the country to the Severn. Even the Lea is far deeper and broader
than the Roding, up which a fleet would hardly dare to ascend as far as
Uphall Camp." But in the absence of scientific ordeal by pick and shovel,
speculations as to the makers of such earthworks are but vain imaginings.
We can but plead that a distinct service would be rendered to true
archaeological science by a careful exploration of a section or two of the
ramparts to settle a puzzle of generations of local antiquaries since Camden—
and no one need fear any permanent disfigurement. The excavated soil could
be easily replaced, and such "auncient ruynes" are rendered vastly more
interesting and valuable when their true histories are known.— En. [Mr.
Walter Crouch has some further notes on the camp in the recent part of the
British Archaeological Association's Journal together with a sketch plan of the
earthworks. We are sorry to see in the report of the Council of the
"National Trust" that neither that excellent society nor the Society of Anti-
quaries can see their way to acceeding to the proposal of the Essex Field
Club to join in an attempt to settle the question by a systematic explora-
tion. Mr. Howard says that he would not be adverse to such an
exploration conducted on scientific principles.—ED.]
Disastrous Effects of the High Tide of November, 1897, at North
Fambridge.-The Rev. R. F. McLeod, Rector of North Fambridge, has
recently called attention in the Times to the deplorable condition of that
parish, through the bursting of the sea-walls by the high tide of November,
1897. Four great breaches exist in the bank, one of which is about 150 feet
wide. Through these the tide ebbs and flows daily, converting some 500
acres of land into huge salt lakes, whereon a fleet of yachts could manoeuvre.
In a private letter with which Mr. McLeod has favoured us, he says (under
date, October 27th, 1898); "It is very difficult to tell you the exact acreage
flooded. The statement in my letter to the Times referred only to the acreage
submerged in this parish, viz., about 500. The land is flooded for about three
miles in length altogether, with au average width of about three-fourths of
a mile—i.e., from near Clements Green Creek to Hyde Marsh. Both these
points are outside this parish. In my parish there is a huge breach in Blue
House Farm river bank, and three in Grooms Farm. Blue House is on the
E. and Grooms on the W. side of the parish, and the waters from both sides
meet. Several farms are flooded more or less—some have as much as half
the land under water. The land is now covered with sea-weed, and marsh
samphire, or glass-wort, is growing abundantly everywhere. The gulls and
other sea-birds are making the fields their feeding grounds. Part of the
highway near the river is flooded, so that the near bank at the Ferry cannot
be reached at high-tide, except by boat. Several cottages are flooded at
spring-tides and the salt water has got into the village well several times."
Mr. J. H. G. Kimber, of Bridgemarsh, having written that the Rev. R.
McLeod had understated the case, and that 5,000 acres would be a more