ESSKX AS A WINK-PRODUCING COUNTY. 39 



Coggeshall, two miles distant, grew their wine ; but there is no 

 evidence to show how late they continued to do so. After the 

 place ceased to be used as a vineyard, it was apparently con- 

 verted into an ordinary orchard, for very old apple- and other fruit- 

 trees grow among the firs with which the lower part of the valley 

 is now planted, and the upper part is still used as a nursery 

 ground. The whole of the little valley is sheltered on the north 

 side by a huge brick wall, nearly fifteen feet high in places and 

 not much short of a quarter-of-a-mile in length, on the southern 

 side of which wall- fruit-trees are grown. This wall was built (so 

 far as one can judge from its appearance) early in last century. 

 If so, it was, in all probability, erected long posterior to the time 

 when the vine was cultivated at the spot and was intended to 

 shelter the fruit-trees which succeeded them. 



Mr. Walter Sargent states, in his letter already alluded to, 

 that, 



" in regard to Dunniow, there are several stray vines dotted 

 about the place, and, as these, though unprotected and growing 

 outside, bear plentifully a good-sized grape, one is inclined to 

 think that they are only remnants of a higher cultivated stock." 



It is, however, scarcely safe to assume that the fact cited is 

 evidence of the former existence of a vineyard at Dunmow ; for 

 the vines in question may easily have escaped from some modern 

 cottage garden. 



In the park, at Down Hall, the seat of Lord Rookwood, in 

 the parish of Hatfield Broad Oak, there is a spot which appears 

 to be the site of a former vineyard, as I am informed by the Rev. 

 F. W. Galpin, rector of the parish.'^ 1 have not myself had an 

 opportunity of visiting the spot ; but Mr. Galpin states that the 

 supposed vineyard lies close to the house, on a steep slope, 

 which has been terraced. Lord Rookwood, however, doubts 

 whether the ancient terrace (which is bounded at each end by 

 the remains of two bastions) is anything more than an orna- 

 mental garden-terrace made, probably, about the year 1700, 

 when Prior, the poet, lived at Down Hall. 



It may be safely asserted that Mr. Waller's list of Essex 

 Field Names will show, when its publication shall have been 

 completed, that not a few other fields in various parts of our 



18 If it should hereafter be demonstrated that the " Belcamp " of Domesday Book (see 

 post, p. 41) was at Down Hall, this vineyard might be identified, without hesitatation, with 

 that recorded in Domesday as existing at " Belcamp.", 



