176 THE ESSEX NATURALIST
A section of the track which is strongly representative of the
whole stretches from Cobbin's Brook (453043) to Pepper's Green
(620106) and is here treated in detail.
1. The Cobbin's Mound (453043) is in line with the track
from Deerpark Wood (405040) along the southern brow of the
Epping Upland ridge, passing a few hundred yards south of Epping
Upland Church. It was discovered by Mr. H. B. Kemsley, of
Jack's Hatch. Here the bed of Cobbin's Brook has been diverted
into an almost circular channel, producing a central mound
nearly twenty feet above the brook level. This mound is con-
nected to the adjacent field by an unbroken causeway at its
northern face. The diameter of the bend in the stream around
the mound is about 100 feet.
2. The Hayley Manor stone (458049) now rests on the side
of a ditch 200 yards east of the farmhouse. It was discovered by
the plough buried on the summit of the highest elevation, about
twenty yards east of its present position, by Mr. W. Padfield, of
Hayley's Manor. It is an irregular block of Herts conglomerate
about three feet long, and in its original state was probably
mounted on the top of the hillock where it would be in view from
the Cobbin's Mound, four furlongs to the south-west. Thus, the
track changes direction at Cobbin's Mound, evidently to avoid
the low ground of the Cripsey stream away to the east.
3. The Cross Keys stone (468057). Five furlongs beyond
the Hayley stone, in the same north-east direction the track
reaches the main Epping-Harlow road, and in a field opposite
the Cross Keys Inn, not two yards from the hedgerow, is an
inconspicuous block. We were told that it is deeply embedded,
having resisted an attempt to remove it. The most arresting
feature of this stone is its shape, the exposed portion being that
of a half-moon disc, about six inches thick and two feet in dia-
meter. It has been placed in the ground with the narrow edge
orientated in the north-east direction of the track. The impres-
sion is created that the stone emphasises this northern component
of direction, to deflect travellers away from the low lying, marshy
and heavily-wooded valley of the Cripsey.
4. The Canes stone (482065). Canes Farm lies a mile away to
the east-north-east of the "Cross Keys." The farmyard occupies
the ancient site of Canes Priory, and here we found a conglomerate
block almost buried in the ground in front of a stable. In all
probability this is not its original position. The track beyond
Canes Farm follows the southern brow of the ridge overlooking
North Weald, and for the next mile no stones or other evidence
have yet been found.
5. The Mollman stone (504075). This stands outside Moll-
man's Farm, on the roadside where three roads meet. Originally