Essex erratic boulders: a gazetteer
stone' were present in Gestingthorpe parish. There are far fewer visible today, but some of the
largest are listed here.
At least nine sarsens can be seen on the grass outside Nether Hall Farm (TL 809393). The largest
of these - one of the largest in Essex - is a triangular stone (240x210x30).
Two sarsens (the largest 120x50x40) lie by the crossroads at the north end of the village (TL
811388) and several sarsens (the largest 160x110x60) are situated on the private entrance drive to
Hill Farm (TL 821391).
On the grass at the road junction near Moat Farm (TL 816367) is a sarsen (120x100x30) with a
mammilated surface.
Great Bardfield
One of the best examples of 'Pagan' stones being incorporated into a Christian structure is St.
Mary's Church (TL 678303). Here, two boulders, a sarsen and a sandstone (largest 110x85x35)
are visible beneath the east end of the church.
Greenstead Green
Aconspicuous sarsen (140x100x65) sits in front of Parley Beams Farm (TL 838291) at Stonebridge
Hill on the main road into Halstead (Salter 1914). The upper surface of the stone contains holes
which may have originally been rootlets at the time of the stone's formation (Armfield 1893).
Armfield's account is interesting as he reported that a much larger stone (210x185x30) then lay
next to it but this has now disappeared.
Ovington
Near the church on the grass by the road leading to Ovington Hall (TL 763425) is a conspicuous
large sarsen (200x150x40) with a mammilated surface.
Panfield
Three rounded sandstonc(?) boulders (the largest 130x50x50) and a sarsen (70x25x25) can be
seen by the entrance to Sheering Hall Farm (TL 736268).
Ridgewell
On the village green (TL 737408) is a round sandstone boulder (80x60x30).
North of Ridgwell near Bowles Farm are two igneous boulders on the grass verge by the post box
(TL 738413). One is aboulder of basalt (60x60x50) and the other is a rounded boulder with much
larger crystals and may be a syenite (60x60x30).
Sturmer
At TL 699438, near the entrance to Abbotts Hall, is a small basalt boulder (60x35x25).
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