ESSEX AS A WINE-PRODUCING COUNTY. 39
Coggeshall, two miles distant, grew their wine ; but there is no
evidence to show how late they continued to do so. After the
place ceased to be used as a vineyard, it was apparently con-
verted into an ordinary orchard, for very old apple- and other fruit-
trees grow among the firs with which the lower part of the valley
is now planted, and the upper part is still used as a nursery
ground. The whole of the little valley is sheltered on the north
side by a huge brick wall, nearly fifteen feet high in places and
not much short of a quarter-of-a-mile in length, on the southern
side of which wail-fruit-trees are grown. This wall was built (so
far as one can judge from its appearance) early in last century.
If so, it was, in all probability, erected long posterior to the time
when the vine was cultivated at the spot and was intended to
shelter the fruit-trees which succeeded them.
Mr. Walter Sargent states, in his letter already alluded to,
that,
"in regard to Dunmow, there are several stray vines dotted
about the place, and, as these, though unprotected and growing
outside, bear plentifully a good-sized grape, one is inclined to
think that they are only remnants of a higher cultivated stock."
It is, however, scarcely safe to assume that the fact cited is
evidence of the former existence of a vineyard at Dunmow ; for
the vines in question may easily have escaped from some modern
cottage garden.
In the park, at Down Hall, the seat of Lord Rookwood, in
the parish of Hatfield Broad Oak, there is a spot which appears
to be the site of a former vineyard, as I am informed by the Rev.
F. W. Galpin, rector of the parish.18 I have not myself had an
opportunity of visiting the spot ; but Mr. Galpin states that the
supposed vineyard lies close to the house, on a steep slope,
which has been terraced. Lord Rookwood ; however, doubts
whether the ancient terrace (which is bounded at each end by
the remains of two bastions) is anything more than an orna-
mental garden-terrace made, probably, about the year 1700,
when Prior, the poet, lived at Down Hall.
It may be safely asserted that Mr. Waller's list of Essex
Field Names will show, when its publication shall have been
completed, that not a few other fields in various parts of our
18 If it should hereafter be demonstrated that the "Belcamp" of Domesday Book (see
post, p. 41) was at Down Hall, this vineyard might be identified, without hesitation, with
that recorded in Domesday as existing at "Belcamp".