Medieval woodland, 'Chalkney Wood' (Chalkney Wood Access Woodland), Earls Colne (EHER 8720)

'Ancient' medieval woodland with a relatively simple management history. It is delimited by a Medieval bank. Originally part of the Earls of Oxford estate.

Ancient woodland with a relatively simple management history. 62.5 acres in the southwest still have an essentially medieval form of woodland management in full working order. The rest is controlled by the Forestry Commission and has, since 1959, been very heavily planted with conifers. The wood has been so-called since the 15th century and has had its present area at least since 17th century. It was one of the great manorial woods of the De Veres, Earls of Oxford - who kept wild boar in it (the boar was their rebus, used as crest and seal) until the time of Henry VIII, according to a survey of 1598 (see sources <1> and <2>). The wood has a remarkably sinuous and irregular boundary with substantial bank, external ditch, and massive elm coppice stools, and is remarkably complete, standing some 3ft higher than the surrounding fields. There is a lack of internal earthworks that might indicate former field divisions. A trackway is preserved within the wood, probably pre-dating it (see EHER 8719). <1> - <4> Site Management: = SW part is a coppice wood, trees felled at intervals on an irregular rotation of 20-40 yrs and allowed to grow again from the stumps or `stools' to produce crops of poles. A properly planned increase in public recreation should not seriously interfere with the historical or biological features of the wood. Arrangements should be made to concentrate potentially disturbing activities in designated parts, eg Garnett's Wood, which is less important biologically and less attractive. <3> Site Assessment = Before 1959, it would have been one of the most interesting woods in Eastern England. Unfortunately, the two-thirds which have been replanted were probably the most interesting part. Even so, the SW part is one of the more important woods in Essex and is eminently worthy of preservation. <3> Photo of 1598 map. <5> Before 1959, it would have been one of the most interesting woods in eastern England. Unfortunately, the two-thirds which have been replanted were probably the most archaeologically interesting part. Even so, the south-west part is one of the most important woods in essex and is eminetly worthy of preservation. The area under the control of ECC is managed in a sympathetic way for preservation of archaeological remains and little can be suggested to improve this situation. The area under the control of the Forestry Commission would benefit from archaeological advice. <6> - <11> Please see Associated Files for information on the ecology of Chalkney Wood. NRHE data transfer: (TL 8727 Centred) The big Medieval wood of Chalkney was part of the ancestral estates of the Earls of Oxford. Edward de Vere, seventeenth earl, sold up his lands to spite his Father-in-Law, and his steward, Roger Harlackenden bought Earl's Colne and became lord of it in his stead. Harlackenden caused a great map of Earl's Colne to be made in 1598, which shows the outline of Chalkney Wood exactly as it is now together with many of the surrounding lanes, hedges and cottages. The eldest archaeological feature is a holloway (RR24) which can be traced across the wood. The wood is surrounded by a medieval bank some three miles long except at the south corner where a cottage has been built. The wood and its surroundings remained almost unaltered until the 1950s. Since then two-thirds have been coniferized, but not very thoroughly, making it relatively easy to reconstruct the original vegetation. <12>