Essex erratic boulders: a gazetteer
Magdalen Laver
By the east wall of St. Mary Magdalen Church (TL 513083) is a flat slab of Carboniferous
Limestone (120x120x25). Two small but colourful Puddingstones are supporting the north wall
of the church (Rudge 1950).
In the grounds of Magdalen Laver Hall (TL 511083) is a very large puddingstone (200x150x40)
and an adjacent sarsen (90x60) (Rudge 1952). The lower half of the puddingstone contains no
pebbles and is therefore similar to a sarsen. Magdalen Laver Hall and grounds are private property.
In the entrance drive to Greens Farm (TL 504074) outside a bungalow are two sarsens lying flat on
the grass (the largest 130x120x25).
Moreton
A dark brown sarsen (80x55x20) and another unfortunately painted white (85x40x25) are situated
next to the White Hart Public House (TL 534070) (Salter 1914).
At Bushes Farm (TL 525079) a large puddingstone (170x70x50) and aboulder of Carboniferous
Limestone (110x45x45) lie by the road either side of the entrance drive.
North Weald Bassett
At Wyldingtree Farmhouse (TL 510059) are three sarsens (the largest 120x60x40) and a
puddingstone (80x70) on the roadside by the entrance (Salter 1914). Afourth sarsen (180x120x45)
is situated just inside the private garden.
Roydon
A small but conspicuous boulder of ferricrete (60x60x50) protrudes from the grass opposite the
war memorial (TL 407103) not far from the church (Sailer 1914).
On the road between Broadley Common and Roydon, by the road at the entrance to Barnfield
Transfer Station (TL 420080) arc eight assorted erratics. The largest is half of a large Septarian
nodule (1.6 metre diameter) with glacial striations and impressions of ammonites on its surface.
Calcite crystals are visible lining the cracks in the broken surface. Other erratics include a sarsen
(100x70x60) and, on the other side of the entrance, a boulder of sandstone(?) (125x80x50).
Shelley
In the private garden of a thatched cottage on the Fyfield Road (TL 554045) is a flat sarsen (130x 100)
flush with the ground surface and difficult to spot. It is visible from the public footpath leading to
Shelley Church.
Stanford Rivers
Hidden in the grass by the road near the entrance to St. Margaret's Church (TL 534009) is a sarsen
(90x85).
Waltham Abbey
In the hamlet of Holyfield is a puddingstone (90x75x40) on a triangle of grass in front of a cottage
(TL 387030) (Salter 1914). This is the boulder that skirted E.A. Rudge on his quest for evidence of
an ancient 'conglomerate trackway' across southern England (Rudge (L) 1962).
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Essex Naturalist (New Series) 20 (2003)