Possible site of 16th century military camp, West Tilbury (EHER 82370)

Earthworks south and west of the church and the hall, obscured by gravel diggings and farm buildings. They are the possible earthworks of an Anglo-Saxon cell and Bishop Cedd's Palace (detailed in EHER 1674) and military camp used by Queen Elizabeth I to review her troops in 1588.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import. Earthworks south and west of the church and the hall, now much obscured by gravel diggings and farm buildings. At the edge of the escarpment overlooking levels towards the river, covering the neck of a promontory. The churchyard stands on a slight mound suggesting an early camp while a bastion-like projection to the west gives the work a Medieval appearance. South west of the church, is a rampart with an internal ditch, which appears to be of a later date than the other works'. <1> The site is reputed to be the location of Elizabeth I's camp for her review of the troops in 1588. <2>-<6> Site Assessment: in fair condition in 1980. <7> Photo, distant, of earthworks in SMR. <8> Watching brief, 1995 Six features were identified within the foundation trenches of an extension for a conservatory. A pit or ditch contained a single sherd of late Romano-British pottery, three flint-and-chalk footings could not be dated but were probably earlier than the seventeenth century and two postholes or pits were probably post-medieval in date. The footings appear to lie in strata containing medieval or post medieval tile and therefore may pre-date the hall which is 17th century. <9> The Survey of West Tilbury Ao1581 vltimo die augusti. Written survey with map extracts, in original language. <10> Aerial photograph <11>