166
THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
was covered with oak forest, before deforestation was completed,
and supported 40 swine at Domesday. An area on the northern
margin of the creek is still known as the Buttery Farm ; like
the low lands (wicks) bordering on many creeks in south-east
Essex, it was the pasture of the sheep that produced the butter
and cheese. The manor had two fisheries at Domesday, which
were probably keddels or weirs placed in the outlets of the
creek ; they were in existence in 1381 [40] and paid rent in the
time of Henry VIII. [41].
Camden (1551-1623) refers to the parish as Sea Church, and
in Gibson's translation in 1772 the parish is written Sea Church
in the map. Richard Newcourt [42], in 1710, refers to the parish
as Southchurch, but has Sea Church in his map. Nathaniel
Salmon [43], in 1740, refers to Southchurch, as "on the Shore,
called for that reason sometimes Sea-church."
The manors were grouped around and the activities of the
parish were centred on this saltwater arm of the estuary ; it
even caused the substitution of Sea Church for the original name
of South Church and the nomenclature was not considered
inappropriate in the middle of the 18th century. The creek
probably continued to a late date and the "inning" may have
been the work of the Dutch engineers who walled Canvey Island
and the coast and islands on the east of Rochford Hundred in
the 17th century. Before the development of Thorpe Bay the
barrier was 15-16ft. above O.D., the marshland behind 8-9 above
O.D., draining through several sea-gutters into the Thames.
My grateful thanks are due to Mr. Reginald A. Smith and
Mr. Christopher Hawkes of the British Museum for classifying
the pottery on which the approximate date of the causeway
depends.
Mr. A. S. Kennard identified the shells collected from different
parts of the causeway and the Pleistocene bed at Bournesgreen
Farm. The sequence of events in the Valley of Southchurch
is based mainly on his research. I am deeply indebted to him
for information on many of the points raised, for reading my
notes, and offering many valuable suggestions.
APPENDIX.
The Shells of the Prehistoric Settlement of Southchurch.
1. Pleistocene freshwater shells. From blue clay bed in river
gravels at Bournesgreen Farm. 3 species.