ANCIENT EARTHWORKS 



field for archaeological exploration which may set at rest the long-debated 

 question as to their age and purpose. 



THE 'DENEHOLES' 



Hangman's Wood near Grays 1 contains the curious pits known as 

 ' deneholes,' which have been a mystery to enquirers from the days of 

 Camden* to the present time. 



Many writers have in modern days issued papers on the subject, but 

 the gist of the information will be found in the Essex Naturalist, edited 

 by Mr. W. Cole, who, with Mr. T. V. Holmes, has devoted much time 

 and attention to the examination of the pits in the course of explora- 

 tions undertaken by the Essex Field Club with a view to the elucidation 

 of the mystery surrounding their age and purpose.* 



^HP?? 4 



V J i -* * .. '* 



fr?t'$rai &'*-&. 

 Hy*& l 8& ifc'&'Ji* 



W^ 



Section of a Denehole in present condition, 



ihowing ihaft widened by weather, and 



a heap of debris below. 



Section of a Denehole in original condition, 

 showing walling of flinti round 

 entrance of shaft. 



SECTIONS OF A DENEHOLE AND GROUND PLAN OF CHAMBERS. 



(Based upon plan and description by Mr. T. V. Holmes, F.G.S.) 



Seventy-two deneholes have been counted within 4 acres of 

 Hangman's Wood mostly near together and consisting each of a ver- 

 tical shaft carried down from 50 to 100 feet through Thanet Sand into 

 the Chalk. The shafts are from 3 to 4 feet in diameter and end in 

 caves or excavations branching into chambers of about 20 feet in length. 



The shafts have become more or less closed up by soil and debris 

 from above, those pits which were cleared by the Essex Field Club in 

 their explorations showing each a great heap of sand and soil at the base. 



1 The wood is partly in the parish of East Thurrock and partly in Orsett. Deneholes appear also 

 to have been found in the adjoining parish of Chadwell St. Mary. 



* Britannia (1586). 



* In the index will be found references to various papers and notices which have appeared from 

 time to time. We may here mention some notable essays which have been published : ' Report of 

 Explorations,' by T. V. Holmes and W. Cole, Essex Nat. 1887 ; 'Deneholes and Bell Pits,' by T. V. 

 Holmes, Gtol. Mag. 1898 ; 'Deneholes and Artificial Caves,' by F. C. J. Spurrell, Arth. Journ. 1881 ; 

 'On Deneholes,' by Miller Christy, Reliquary, 1895 ; 'Deneholes,' by J. G. Waller, Refyuary, 1896 ; 

 ' The Origin of Deneholes,' by A. R. Goddard, Essex Artb. Trans. \ 899 ; Note by J. H. Round on 

 the same, Essex Arch. Tram. 1899. 



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