THE BADGER IN ESSEX
275
there are also reports of them from surrounding parkland. The
whole area is thoroughly suitable and has undoubtedly some setts
yet to be found. Just to the east lie Great Canfield and High
Roding where there is one active sett in each village. Further
north is Takely, with a sett in the churchyard which is not active
at present and an active one on private land nearby. Stansted is
a little to the west with an active sett near Stansted Hall and a
gassed and disused one at Norman House. However, fresh
Badger footprints have recently been seen in this part so the
animal must still be holding on. North of Takely is Broxted,
where a Badger was shot recently while breaking into a poultry-
house. It was found to be an old animal, which bears out the
fact that it is usually old ones that "run amok", having become
worn in tooth and claw. Nearby, there are setts at Tilty, Duton
Hill, Little Easton and a large one near Dunmow which was
gassed this spring and has not been re-opened. The area of
extreme north and north-west of Essex has yet to be investigated
following old reports of Badgers. Mid-Essex probably has not a
large Badger population, but there may be some setts as old
records here do exist.
Place names deriving from "Brock" are usually associated
with Hampshire and the south but Essex has its share. Broxted,
already mentioned, is said to derive from the Anglo-Saxon words
meaning Badger's Head. Other names on the Essex map include
Brock Hill, Brockholds Farm, Brockles, Brockley Wood, Brockley
Green, Broekwell Chase and Brock Farm.
The information in these notes is very fragmentary, especially
that of the area in which I am trying to cover in West and North-
West Essex. There is still much to be done and I would value
any records of Badgers seen dead or alive, especially from mid and
North of the county. I should like to thank those who have
helped by sending in records and my friends who have helped in
searching for setts. I must also thank Mr. D. Hunford and Mr.
P. Blomfield of the South Essex Natural History Society for
information on their studies of the badger in South Essex. There
are many others to whom I am indebted, including landowners,
farmers and gamekeepers too numerous to mention individually.
References
Fitch, E. A. (1887). Essex Naturalist, Vol. 1, pp. 114, 150, 186. Also
numerous short notes all to be found from the Index.
Buxton, E. N. (1897). Epping Forest, 4th Edit.
Laver, H. (1898). Mammals, Reptiles and Fishes of Essex. Essex.
Field Club Special Memoir.