Possible medieval windmill mound, Dovercourt (EHER 3397)

Morant refers to a 'tumulus' on which stood a wind mill about 0.5 mile S of Harwich. The Essex historian considered the camp a work of the Romans. No trace of the fortifications mentioned by Morant survive today.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import. Morant refers to a `tumulus' on which stood a wind mill about 0. 5 mile S of Harwich. <1> - <3> In Morant's time traces of a camp at Harwich existed at least 1/2 mile long, one side of the work running southerly from without the Town-gate (TM 26123243) to the Beacon Hill field (TM 26053175), in the midst of which was a tumulus (on which stood a windmill <3>). The rampart was 12 feet high, and the ditch, though chiefly filled up, at least 6 feet deep and 40 feet wide. The sea had destroyed the rest. On top of the hill another work ran across from the former in an easterly direction. The Essex historian considered the camp a work of the Romans. <2> <3> <4> No trace of the fortifications mentioned by Morant survive today. It is possible that he incorrectly identified the medieval fortifications flanking the town gate (see plan) or that the earthworks have been destroyed by coastal erosion. The "tumulus" or windmill mound was not located, but a mill is shown in a map of 1732 on the site of the Redoubt (TM 26153216). It is probable that the mill mound was destroyed in 1808 when the fort was built. Beacon Hill (TM 26053175) is now occupied by military constructions dating from 1939 and all trace of a beacon site have been destroyed. <5> <6> A watching brief was carried out in 1986 when Anglian Water Authority bored 3 holes to a depth of c. 10m on the western slope of Beacon Hill just outside the WWII fort on a playing field area. 2 holes were observed but there were no finds nor any indication of disturbed ground. <7> Additional reference <8>