Bannister Green Quarkers Mount

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

Called suspect low motte by King although not put in his 'possible' list which would equate to my questionable catagory. Mound, probably site of a wind mill, c100ft in diameter at base and 12ft high. Artificial mound in garden of cottage, known as Mill Cottage, c3.5 high, flat top c16.2m x 10.6m. Originally may have been circular but it seems that a sloping extension was built on the east side from the top of the mound down to the road. A wet moat surrounds roughly half the perimeter on the west side of the mound. The south side of the faces the front of the cottage and has been made into a rockery. Excavated 1946-1947. Quaker burials found (see 1256). Tithe map of 1844 marks it as Mill Hill, cottage as Mill Cottage. No finds from excavations could be used to date the mound. It is generally thought to be a tumulus, also used as a mill mound and Quaker burial ground. OS 1975-feature takes advantage of exposed position in level area.. Appearance and shape are typical of windmill steads in the region. Tail of the mound at the east end and the surrounding semi-circular ditch are indicative. Ditch is shallow, waterfilled, cut seems contemporary with mound. No evidence it ever completely surrounded the mound. Disused by C17 its appearance and name are conclusive of its use and probable origin.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is TL69522042

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 376413
This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is 1254; 1255; 1256 '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
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p144
    RCHME, 1921, An inventory of the historical monuments in Essex. Vol2 [central and south-west] p84
    Gould, Chalkley, 1903, in Doubleday, Arthur and Page, Wm (eds), VCH Essex Vol1 p294
• Journal Articles
  • Trow, C., 1948, Essex Review Vol57 p100-103 [unprofitable excavation report]
    French, J., 1909, Essex Archaeological Society transactions Vol10 p258
    French, J., 1892, Essex Naturalist Vol6 p100-1