THE PAST HISTORY OF THE FOREST OF ESSEX. 131
against forest animals, particularly deer, which, as we learn from
Fisher7, the inhabitants were forbidden to drive from their
property. There existed in those times many regulations con-
cerning fences, whilst deer seem unwilling to take to water unless
driven.
There occur in Essex many houses, also of mediaeval date,
which do not possess moats of any kind. Their distribution
is equally significant. The majority of these houses appear
Fig. 6. Extent of the Forest in the Mediaeval Period (c. 1400 a.d.)
east of the Boulder Clay, the greatest number being situated
on the eastern London Clay and light soil belts. In no part
of the county do the two types exist side by side, but definite
grouping appears to obtain. It therefore seems that the moated
houses of mediaeval times, excluding moated houses for defence
in war, denoted settlement occurring during this period within
or adjacent to the existing forested areas. The fact that the
majority of all types of houses, apparently erected in mediaeval
times, are to be found in the north-west of the county, where
7 Fisher. The Forest of Essex. I