Journal of Proceedings. liii
known as "Debden Slade"* on the south, and a smaller branch valley
(" Kate's Cellar") on the west and south-west. The view from the
southern side is very extensive, and is bounded by the Kentish hills
beyond the Thames. High Beach lies not far away to the west. The
whole site is covered with forest, and a large number of very ancient holly
trees grow in and around the camp. The main points of its structure
are very similar to Ambresbury (see Trans., Plate III., vol. ii.), but the
form is not nearly so rectangular, and the workmanship appears to be of
a somewhat ruder character. The ramparts have suffered greatly from
denudation, digging for foxes, sand, &c. and in one place in particular, on
the western side, the bank and trench have been completely destroyed, and
the soil apparently literally tumbled down the face of the hill. Near this
spot also, a considerable portion of the western glacis has been removed
by the Forest "improvers," to make room for their "Green-ride!" In
the interior of the camp a little well or spring may be seen (artificial ?)
from which rises a small, sluggish stream, which gradually widens out
into a Sphagnum-bog in a small valley, and eventually leaves the camp at
the south-east corner, the embankment being there considerably worn
away by denudation. A little outside the line of rampart can be detected
a bank running across the bog, with a small flood-way towards the east;
this has all the appearance of an ancient dam, by which a head of water
could have been retained in the interior of the camp for the use of its
inhabitants. A large number of pits exist in the camp, and from the
head of the little valley on the west they continue round the northern
part, where the ground is almost level. Some of these pits may have
been made by sand or gravel digging, but many are very ancient, as their
overgrown condition shows ; and we are disposed to think that they
belong to the original plan of the camp.† The regular circular form
of many, and the distance of the site from any high road (for the Epping
New Road is of course very modern), seems sufficient to negative the
gravel or sand-pit theory. But we must not attempt here a complete
description of the camp and its surroundings ; this will be given in the
full report of the investigation, with plan, map and sections, to render it
intelligible.
The Club having resolved to continue the investigation of the Forest
earthworks with especial reference to the Loughton Camp, the following
members were appointed, at a Council Meeting held on March 25th, 1882,
a Committee for that purpose:—The Officers, ex officio, Messrs. R. L.
* Quaere, "Deep-den Slade," a low-lyirig valley in a wood; from A.8. Denu, a hole,
cave, valley, or den, and Slaed, low, boggy ground.
† Just inside the rampart on the north-west corner is an immense pit, which popular
traditions and old maps denominate "Dick Turpin's Cave," with some degree of pro-
bability. We know from Cauldfield's ' Memoirs of Remarkable Characters,' that the
notorious highwayman did, in company with King, a congenial spirit, inhabit a " cave "
in Epping Forest, at " a spot between the ' King's Oak ' and the Loughton road." This
cave they covered in with branches of trees, earth, &c, and, enclosed in a dense thicket
of bushes and brambles, they so sheltered themselves and their two horses.