A SUPPOSED NEOLITHIC SETTLEMENT AT
SKITTS HILL, BRAINTREE, ESSEX.
By the Rev. J. W. KENWORTHY, Vicar of Braintree.
With Remarks on the Archaeological Objects, by
F. W. Reader ; on the Geology of the District,
by T. V. Holmes, F.G.S., F. Anthrop. Inst. ; and
on the Osteological Specimens by E. T. Newton,
F.R.S.1
[Read February 25th, 1899.]
The District, and Preliminary Remarks.
ON the south side of Braintree there is a small stream, or
rivulet, mentioned in recent books and spoken of in
common parlance by various names—the Pod ; Pods Brook ;
the Bran ; the Brain, &c. In Muilman's History it is called
the "Stour." We read, "The river Stour waters this parish,
over which there are three bridges—one on the road to Witham ;
another on the road to Chelmsford ; and a third on that to
Dunmow." It is below the first of these bridges that in very
early times—in fact, soon after the cutting down of the valley to
its lowest depths—that a Lake or "Broad" began to be formed
by the silting up of the stream along nearly the whole of the
present plain between the narrow hills which here form a gorge
half-a-mile or so in length.
View of the Skitts Hill Site of the Lake Dwellings (Platt I.)
The view is taken looking N.W., and shows the extreme end of the
excavations for brickearth ; beyond the palings the present river runs. The
building on the highest ground to the right is219 feet above Ordnance Datum.
The water shown in the photograph stands at 6ft. 6in. from the surface soil.
Below the level of this water, from 6ft. 6in. to 9ft. is the bed of slime, mud,
peat and wood containing the relics of the lake-dwellers. In the level where
the men are working are found Roman tiles, and above this level horse-shoes
and modern pottery. In front of the photograph the heaps are of wood-ashes
and refuse of long-continued fires for domestic purposes, thrown out of the pit
where the water now stands.
The excavation is on the right slope of the foot of the valley ; to this
slope the wheel-barrow is directed.
These excavations were begun about 30 years ago, at about a thousand
yards lower down the stream. J.W.K.
1 [The Author and Editor have to acknowledge with gratitude the great assistance of the
above-named gentlemen in the revision of this paper and in preparing it for the press. Mr.
Reader has not only visited the locality several times, but has consulted with Mr. Kenworthy
and the expert authorities at the Geological and British Museums, and has also prepared
all the illustrations. Mr. Holmes has written and advised on the geological questions arising,
and has visited the spot on two occasions. Mr. E. T. Newton, F.R.S., has in the kindest
way examined all the osteological specimens. The appended initials of the above-named
gentlemen indicate any notes added by them to the text. In addition to the above Mr. C. H.
Read, F.S.A., and Mr. F. W. Rudler, F.G.S., have most courteously advised on special
points.- Ed]