94 THE COMING OF AGE OF
by our members, Messrs. G. F. Beaumont and I. C. Gould, and
of which I have been favoured with an advanced copy, bear
ample testimony to our activity. We were very fortunate at the
outset in having secured the active interest of that great pioneer
in modern archaeological research, our late Hon. Member, Gen.
Pitt-Rivers. It was at his instigation that systematic excava-
tions into the Epping Forest earthworks were first undertaken,
the suggestion having been brought before the Club at a meeting
held on July 3rd, 1880 (Proc. I., xxiv.) and at another memorable
meeting held at Ilford on July 24th, 1880 (Ibid., xxxii.; see
also pp. 1. and liv.). The report on the excavations at Ambres-
bury Banks was drawn up by Gen. Pitt-Rivers and read in 1881
(Trans., II., 55 ; see also Proc. II., xxviii., for official report and
bibliographical history by the Secretary, Mr. W. Cole). The
exploration of the Loughton Camp was taken in hand the follow-
ing year, the British Association having recognized our work by
appointing a Committee and making a grant in aid of the
expense of excavation. The full report, drawn up by our
Secretary, was presented by me on our behalf at the Southport
meeting of the Association, and was also read before the Club on
Sept. 29th, 1883 (B. A. Rep., 1883. pp., 243-252 ; Trans. III., 212 ;
Proc. III., li., and Appendix No. 2, p. vi.). The conclusions to
which this, our first piece of archaeological exploration, has led,
are too well-known to need recapitulation. It may be desirable
to point out, however, that although we have replaced antiquarian
lore by more substantial information, there still remains much to
be done, even in connection with these "camps." More especi-
ally may I emphasize the necessity for cutting further sections
through and across Ambresbury Banks, since the evidence as to
the age of this earthwork, although conclusive as far as it went,
was derived from one section only.
One other piece of archaeological research which we have
made essentially our own is the exploration of the "Dene-holes"
in Hangman's Wood near Grays. These interesting excavations
were first brought prominently under the notice of the Club by
Mr. Worthington Smith at a joint meeting held with the
Geologists' Association at Grays, on May 14th, 1881 (Proc. II.,
xviii.) Both the conductors of that remarkable meeting, Prof.
John Morris and Mr. Henry Walker, were Hon. Members of
the Club, and Mr. Worthington Smith, whose name still graces
—and may it long continue to grace—our list, has since helped