48 THE "holy thorn" AT WOODHAM FERRERS, ESSEX. 



After we had gazed at the spot where the Uphall Pit had once been, Mr. 

 Walter Crouch kindly volunteered to show any members interested in archaeology 

 the remains of Uphall Camp, which is on a terrace of river-gravel on the 

 eastern bank of the Roding, north of Barking. Most of the party accompanied 

 Mr. Crouch to the mound close to the farmhouse, from which an excellent 

 view was obtained of the dwindling remains of this old camp, probably, as our 

 director remarked, of Roman age. The site is certainly such as the Romans 

 frequently selected. For their object was to ensure domination over a district by 

 means of camps mostly situated in fertile and populous districts, while that of 

 the prehistoric constructors of earthworks was to secure places of refoge from 

 forays and invasions on sites of the greatest natural strength. 



The Camp was visited by the Essex Field Club in 1885 (see Journal of 

 Proceedings, E.F.C., vol. iv, p cxlviii.) 



T. V. Holmes. 



THE " HOLY THORN " AT WOODHAM 

 FERRERS, ESSEX. 



" Blossoms at Christmas, mindful of our Lord." 



A PARAGRAPH appeared in the London "Standard"' of January i6th, 

 relating a somewhat wonderful story that on Old Christmas Eve a number 

 of persons went on a pilgrimage to the parish of Woodham Ferrers to 

 "witness the bursting into leaf of a bush, locally known as the ' Holy Thorn.' 

 It is a fact that at midnight the bush did burst into leaf. The peculiar features 

 of the phenomenon are tlaat the bush assumes its "normal condition a few hours 

 afterwards, and breaks forth with renewed vigour in the spring." 



The Rev. C. P. Plumtree, rector of Woodham Ferrers, afterwards wrote to 

 the " Standard " as follows : 



" I find that there is a certain foundation in fact for the strange circumstances 

 related. There is an old tree, or large thorn bush, locally called the ' Holy 

 Thorn,' standing in a hedgerow, in a somewhat distant part of the parish. This 

 tree is \isitcd by more or fewer persons each year on the eve of January 5th. 

 I have inquired of neighbours on the spot, and they tell me that it produces buds 

 and green shoots in the depth of winter. Indeed, a very credible witness informed 

 me that he had gathered on that night this 3'ear a sprig with a small show of 

 green on it. Even small Ma}^ blossoms have appeared at this season in some 

 years. I need hardly say that the statement that the tree buds and blossoms 

 during a certain hour on Uld Christmas Eve has not and cannot be proved. 



" 1 have myself secured a branch of this tree to-day, and find that its appear- 

 ance is that of ordinary thorns, only that I find the sap is more up than I should 

 expect after such late severe weather. I may, however, say that the people near 

 declare that the colder the winter the better is the show of green and flower. I 

 can deny the miraculous, but I cannot explain why this particular thorn should 

 show such vitality at such an unwonted season. 



" I may, in conclusion, state that the thorn is in a decidedly exposed situation ; 

 that it is certainly of considerable age ; that I can hear of no legend or story in 

 connection with it ; nor can 1 find out anything of its origin." 



A large number of letters appeared in the " Standard " and some of the county 

 papers, giving some very interesting particulars of these thorns in various parts 

 of the kingdom. Of course, the well-known " Holy Thorn " of Glastonbury 

 Abbey was referred to, an excellent account of the legends connected with which 

 will be found in the " Proceedings of the Somersetshire Archaeological and 



