A HISTORY OF ESSEX 



Morant speaks (1768) of castle walls 'not long since in being.' 

 No masonry remains above ground to tell the story, nor, so far as we 

 know, have excavations brought anything to light. 



Mention must be made of the great banks adjoining on the north. 

 The plan shows the Stort, here but a small stream, flowing between 

 deep precipitous banks, and forming a bend on the north-east, with a 

 high and wide embankment on its southern side ; below this bank is a 

 low hollow area, about 70 feet wide, ending southward against the 

 bifurcated rampart immediately north of the castle moat. 1 



100' 



C L AVERING. ESSEX. 



A careful examination of the extension of the banks up the valley 

 westward enables us to understand their purpose. It is evident that the 

 waters of the Stort flowed in part through the hollow area ; the great 

 banks keeping the water back formed a reservoir, probably for use in 

 part to work a mill which may have stood at G where the banks divide. 



But evidence is visible of further use for this reserve of water at 

 E on plan there is an inlet through the banks, high enough to flood the 

 whole moat surrounding the castle. 



The bifurcation of the rampart close by the inlet E was no doubt 

 furnished with sluices, which allowed the water to be carried away out- 



1 The Rev. E . A. Downman is of opinion that these works have no connection with the castle 

 enclosure, but whenever made they involved an immense amount of labour, and we incline to consider 

 them part and parcel of the whole. 



292 



