312
THE ESSEX NATURALIST
Here a pause was made while the President gave an account of the present
state of knowledge concerning this important defensive earthwork. The
period of which he spoke is that between the two Roman invasions—in 55
b.c. and in 43 a.d.—and he gave details of what is known of the varying
fortunes of the Trinovantes, the Catuvellauni, and other tribes in their wars
the one between the other, and in their efforts to resist the Roman invaders.
He illustrated his talk by maps showing the territory held by the tribes in
question at various stages during the period. He pointed out that these
great dykes, whatever their exact date, were probably a defence against
what was then a new weapon—the chariot.
After the President's discourse, the members walked through the sur-
rounding parklands and the opportunity was taken to observe the plants,
insects, and birds of the area.
The coach was then regained and the party travelled to Shrub End where
an alfresco lunch was taken in the pleasant garden of the Leather Bottle
Inn.
Cheshunt Field was next visited, and here members noticed that the
whole area (now corn stubble) was plentifully besprinkled with pieces of
Roman tile. Recently excavated pits, on a site which could be clearly traced
in photographs taken from the air, were shown. It is thought that here stood
a Roman temple and possibly a theatre, there being evidence of HOO feet
of wall.
A statuette of Mercury found on this site is considered the finest in north-
east Europe, and is now in Colchester Museum. The excavation pits were
also found to be of biological interest, for many beetles and a field vole
were found trapped therein.
The coach party next visited Salcot and Virley, and members walked on
to the sea wall and were soon busily engaged in bird watching and the identi-
fication of the plants of the saltings. Soon the time came to take the road to
Colchester, and the coach was stopped at the Balkerne Gate. Here members
alighted, and examined with great interest the remains of what was (as the
President explained) evidently more than a mere fortified gateway to the
Roman city. Its double roadway and footways flanked by guardrooms, of
which one still remains standing to a good height, seem to suggest that it
was in the nature of a triumphal arch at the termination of the great road
from the west.
The coach having been sent on to the Castle, the party then walked through
St. Mary's Postern and along Sir Isaac's Walk to the medieval Scheregate
and to Holy Trinity Church with its notable Saxon tower, in the building of
which Roman tiles were so largely used.
Thence the members were led into the Castle Park and were shown the
site of recent excavation. This work had proved that underneath the Nor-
man motte still exists the Roman forum, and a corner of its masonry has
been left exposed as evidence of what lies beneath.
It was now time for tea, and this was taken at Last's in High Street, the
meal being followed by a formal meeting of the Club.
The President opened the meeting by referring to the fortunate break in
a run of bad weather which had enabled the day's proceedings to be carried
through without a wetting. Rain had held off from the arrival of the party
at Lexden until a few minutes after the restaurant was reached. He then
called upon various members to comment upon the biological finds of the
day.
Mr. Howard spoke of the flowers noted, and his report on them appears
at the end of this account.
Mr. Ward commented upon the dragonflies which had been seen and Mr.
Broughton mentioned the discovery of the Field Vole and various beetle
larvae in the excavation pits at Cheshunt Field.