The Modern Antiquarian. Stone Circles, Ancient Sites, Neolithic Monuments, Ancient Monuments, Prehistoric Sites, Megalithic MysteriesThe Modern Antiquarian

Pitchbury Ramparts

Hillfort

Fieldnotes

This is another of the great Essex hillforts to which the Essex general public are actively denied access by the land owner; most, in all probability, therefore having no idea such priceless, tangible links to our past still exist... cloaked as they are within their mantles of trees. Some may argue the 'ordinary' punter wouldn't care if they were aware, but I like to think the people of Essex have more class than that. What a crying shame, therefore, that we tolerate laws which allow such a state of affairs to persist in the so-called 'enlightened' 21st century.... statutes which grant land owners absolution from moral responsibility to the community in this respect. Guardians of sites on behalf of their neighbours and anyone with a love for this land? Ha! What an inconvenience that would be.

To be honest it is amazing that anything remains of Pitchbury Ramparts at all, the southern two thirds (or so) of the great, bi-vallate enclosure having been apparently ploughed to oblivion in the 1920's (according to Essex HER). After all, that's what we fought the Great War for... to preserve our identity, our heritage. Er... wasn't it? [update - to be fair, Rhiannon's comment to this fieldnote strongly suggests the active destruction of the site began somewhat earlier].

What does remain is an arc of double ramparts preserved in Pitchbury Wood to the north, the inner, again according to Essex HER, some 10ft high. Thankfully we know a little about the site thanks to a 'partial excavation' undertaken by Colchester Excavation Committee in 1973, the team recovering dating evidence in the form of Aylesford-Swarling La Tene III period pottery. It seems the dig followed the line of the laying of a gas pipeline.... again, you simply couldn't make it up....

As mentioned above, the remaining earthworks lie within the 'private' Pitchbury Wood, numerous abrupt notices making it clear visitors to this ancient site are not at all welcome. In retrospect I would suggest prospective visitors try calling upon the occupants of Woodhouse Farm since, not being comfortable with 'trespassing', I asked a local emerging from the direction of Scarlet's Farm... only to have the gentleman look at me with complete incomprehension and point me in the opposite direction. Yeah, such notices do little for vibe. The crystal clear winter sky that accompanies me today helps to compensate, however, sunlight throwing shadows of skeletal trees to accentuate the form of the earthworks which provide a good, sure footing for the former's root systems. Difficult to articulate, but there truly is something about wooded hillforts which captures me hook, line and sinker. Perhaps there is something relating to the 'ancient forest' retained deep within the folk memory, the legends of Herne and what-not all too easy to appreciate in such an environment.... shadows inhabiting a parallel world which has no physical 'substance', yet clearly exists. Or does it?

So.... bearing in mind the actute access issues... you will find the remains of this evocative Iron Age enclosure located a little south-west of Great Horkesley, a nice town with a couple of 'watering holes' for the thirsty (modern) antiquarian. Take the Old House Road from the A134 and park just right of where it meets Coach Road (incidentally both roads are signed for convenience), before heading south along the near flank of Pitchbury Wood. As mentioned, recent-looking signs make it all too clear the land is private..... but perhaps some things are just too important, you know? Once they are gone, they are gone. This ancient enclosure is hanging on in there. Just about.
GLADMAN Posted by GLADMAN
21st February 2012ce
Edited 21st February 2012ce

Comments (9)

It looks most atmospheric in the low light, I'm glad you braved the potential shotguns. i was idly looking for a story for it on Google Books (nothing bar the rather feeble 'Picts at Pictsbury' speculations) and found it might have been smashed up rather earlier than you think - "Allow me .. to express my regret, (in which I am persuaded that you, as a zealous antiquary, will join,) that the earthworks at Pitchbury wood, in the parish of Horkesley, the only perfect specimen of a British camp in the neighbourhood of Colchester, have this year been broken up. The oak trees which grew on the ramparts were felled in the spring; and the double ramparts themselves have since been levelled with the adjoining fields for the promotion of agriculture. Yours, &c. H. J. - that's in 'The Gentleman's Magazine' v173, which is 1843. Not that it makes it any better of course. Rhiannon Posted by Rhiannon
21st February 2012ce
Nice one Rhiannon. That would seem pretty much water tight. Incidentally a young(ish) couple noisily walking a dog - so obviously connected in some way - arrived just as I was about to leave and I thought 'here we go. Time to face up and quote morality issues... can I see your authority, proof of identity etc..' Like a few weeks back at Membury and a while back at Yarnbury.

Completely ignored me... despite their dogs coming up to say 'hello'. Perhaps they thought I was a bit of a dangerous loon. Dunno.
GLADMAN Posted by GLADMAN
21st February 2012ce
Good on you. We need more dangerous loons if that's what you are.

Taking a leaf firmly from your book I visited Dinmore Camp today, similarly festooned with "Private Woods" "No Footpath/Right of Way" type signs. Didn't do a very good job of finding the fort though, apart from one rampart.
thesweetcheat Posted by thesweetcheat
21st February 2012ce
Nice one. As long as nothing is damaged, no one adversely affected, morally I really can't see any grounds for complaint... in light of a recognised intellectual pursuit with benefit to society in general, can you? Ask where possible, cultivate good relations with land owners for those who come after... if not, well. Which side of the fence are you on?

By the way, isn't the original 'whey faced loon' the reason we are all here, albeit in cyber space?
GLADMAN Posted by GLADMAN
21st February 2012ce
Precisely. A pheasant was a bit startled (although possibly not as much as I was by it). I may have damaged a few brambles too.

I think the original whey faced loon was the Macbeth's servant, but certainly the other one is the reason for us being here. :-)
thesweetcheat Posted by thesweetcheat
22nd February 2012ce
I know the caretaker who acts on behalf of Pitchbury Wood. If anyone wants to visit this privately owned wood they can contact me via

alexjones (@) castlecorbenic . com

The reason why these places are off limits is because of idiots who damage the heritage and the woods. For reasons of safety it is better I am informed of visits because some individuals have shooting rights in the wood and people can be shot by accident.
castlecorbenic Posted by castlecorbenic
15th November 2012ce
Normally the idiots who damage the heritage and the woods ARE the landowners, if we asked everyone if we could go where we weren't meant to, we wouldn't visit anywhere because we'd be spending all our time asking rich landowners if it's ok [probably only to be told no because they're going to be shooting and killing some poor animal, even if they're not going to be], shooting things is a great excuse because they do it all the time and it's an easy thing to keep people away, i use my ears to see if anyone is around shooting and if not i don't care who's land it is, because in my world it's ours just as much as theirs [The land and the heritage on it], Ask no one and leave no trace, that's what i say. bladup Posted by bladup
15th November 2012ce
Nice one Alex. Appreciate the offer since I would guess many people are not as open to confrontation as Bladup.... myself included, mainly since it is detrimental to the vibe. Guess we need to remember that this is a community site for all and that a visit should be a joyous experience. To my mind posting contact details for 'serious' visitors is an example of a workable 'middle way'. Incidentally I tried to suggest this to the owner of Yarnbury a couple of years back, although unfortunately the concept was way, way above his head. I would have thought it is in everyone's interests to find that compromise way since those that care for our heritage are not going away. There are more of us a'coming and it is clear we will not settle for officious 'keep out' signs prohibiting all access to what should be public sites. Those days have gone. Sadly Essex is overly represented by the blanket ban.

I do agree with Bladup that the majority of damage to sites, in my experience, is clearly caused by the landowners or their predecessors proving, in general terms (there will always be exceptions who should be highlighted and applauded) that private landowners can not be trusted to care for national monuments. Since legislation is struggling to cope I reckon people such as TMA members have to step up and act as its eyes and ears. However I will always recommend contacting landowners where possible, if only to make them aware that out of sight does not mean out of mind. We are watching.

Hope someone takes you up on your offer since what sites Essex has are not getting the recognition they deserve.
GLADMAN Posted by GLADMAN
15th November 2012ce
I love the song Autogedden blues, great quote Gladman! bladup Posted by bladup
15th November 2012ce
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