Chrishall Park Wood

In the civil parish of Chrishall. In the historic county of Essex (Modern Authority of Essex, 1974 county of Essex).

Called motte by King, Medieval ringwork in PastScape. SMR report reads " Mound surrounded by a moat, mound 85 x 90m. The moat (2 arms of) is shown on the old county map series (no 0S 25" available) but not the mound. The vicar of Chrishall church says it is 70yds north east of the church. A circular work 120ft in diameter surrounded by a ditch, now dry, except on the west side. The RCHM classifies it as a fortified mount. In the south west corner of Park Wood, a sub-circular ring work in close woodland overlooking land to the west but in an otherwise non-commanding position. The work measures 85m overall east-west by about 90m transversely within the enclosed area (level with the surrounding ground), is 4.5m above the level of the surrounding ditch which varies from 12-20m in width. Although water-filed on the west side a slight east to west slope of the ditch suggests there was no intention to form a wet moat. The interior is mainly level with denuded perimeter banking on the north side and an amorphous raised area in the south east corner. Prominent on the north side of the work with traces visible elsewhere is a crudely formed external spoil bank. Crossing the ditch on the south side is an apparently modern causeway. Surveyed at 1:2500 on AM. The 1955(?) OS card gives different dimensions - 37m wide in diameter surrounded by a moat 2.5m deep and 15m wide. Also, from the south east side of the moat there is an extending arm approx 30m long x 12m wide, also dry. Site heavily overgrown."

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is TL45213874

Air Photo from Air Photo and general mapping	1st edition OS Map from Mid to late 19th century maps
Modern Map from Landscape form and features	Modern Map from General location and route planning
Geograph British Isles occasionally has photos of the site and will usually give an idea of the surrounding landscape.

Sources of information, references and further reading

This site's English Heritage (PastScape) Defra or Monument number is 370478
This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is 3910 'grey' literature, such as watching brief reports, held by H.E.R.s is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded in this website.

• Books
  • Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles of East Anglia (Malvern) p23
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p143
    RCHME, 1921, An inventory of the historical monuments in Essex. Vol2 [central and south-west] p66
    Gould, Chalkley, 1903, in Doubleday, Arthur and Page, Wm (eds), VCH Essex Vol1 p291