Undated linear earthwork, Moore's Ditch (EHER 749)

A linear earthwork of uncertain date forming part of the Stoneymore Wood. In parts a ditch is visible and measures 13m wide and 2m deep. Parts have been lost to gravel quarrying.

1921. RCHME Field survey. Ditch with a bank on either side. First apparent as South boundary of Storeymore Wood. It re-appears on the Common a few yards East of the road, where it bends to the East, continuing to within a short distance of Box Wood. The total length is 650yds. Site Assessment: Denuded by gravel workings. <1> Moore's Ditch. 'A' forms boundary of South side of Stoneymore Wood, where the ditch is rather weak, but traceable for its whole course. 'B'. This stretch is overgrown with bracken, small oaks and birch trees. Average width 14m and depth 2m, with slight banks on either side. 'C'. Ditch continues up this track, but has been despoiled, and is difficult to trace. Unclassified by RCHM. <1> [Added from NRHE data import] Moore's Ditch (NAT) <2> Known locally as "Grimm's Ditch". <3> February 1961. Field survey. Moore's, or Grimm's Ditch is a linear earthwork situated at the Eastern end of the small plateau which forms the highest ground hereabouts. It comprises a ditch some 13m wide and 2m deep, with side banks or flanking outer scarps about 1m high. The profile of the work is quite symmetrical but a certain amount of mutilation has resulted from the gravel digging which was carried out here in the past. The work runs in a straight line across level ground in an ENE-WSW direction for a distance of some 300m, (from TL 64160166 to TL 63900154); there is some slight evidence for a continuation Eastwards through an area extensively mutilated by gravel digging but no trace of it beyond the limit of these workings. (TL 64220168) is visible, and it may be significant that a few metres Eastward of this point the edge of the plateau is reached with its consequent falling away of the ground. The Western portion of the work terminates in what appears to be an angle with a continuation to the South. However, this continuation, although similar to the main work in its side banks and medial ditch, is so different in proportions and character that it cannot be regarded as part of the main work which, therefore, would appear to have terminated at the end of the straight. A further section of 'earthwork' at the South end of Stoneymore Wood, previously mentioned in connection with Moore's Ditch can be dismissed. It is no more than a pair of boundary banks which at this point run parallel, but which bifurcate in the wood just to the West of Woodside Cottages (TL 63780142). Moore's ditch proper, therefore, seems to have consisted solely of a straight which probably never extended Eastwards much beyond the point visible today. Its form and position, offering no tactical advantages one side or the other make it a very 'neutral' sort of earthwork but its purpose is obscure. 25" survey has been carried out. OS card has plan. Tracing of this is in SMR. <4> <5> September 1978. Field survey. No change. <6> July 1988. Field survey. The earthwork is as described by <5>. Its East end is lost in gravel quarrying, but it is perhaps just possible to trace its South side as far as the path at TL 64190167. There is no sign of it re-emerging from the quarrying, either in the pasture field North of Potter Row Farm or in Box Wood further East, and it would seem that the ditch did originally terminate not far beyond its present limit. The suggestion in <5> that the true West terminal is the end of the straight section at TL 63900154 also seems correct: not only is the short SW extension of totally different proportions, but it cuts the South counterscarp of the main earthwork. No trace of Moore's Ditch ever having continued further West was found. The earthwork would thus appear to have run dead straight across level ground for just over 300m. Although of sizeable proportions, it is difficult to see how it could have performed a defensive role, since it could be easily outflanked at either end. The fact that the upcast from the ditch went to form counterscarps on both sides also militates against such a function. It is probable, therefore, that the Ditch was designed as a boundary feature, although by whom, for what and when, is not at all clear. No change to published survey. <7> 1993. Field survey. The earthwork is orientated in an ENE-WSW direction and runs in a straight line. In a couple of places footpaths have worn the banks slightly. In 1975 the Ingatestone and Fryerning Historical and Arch. Soc. undertook a section excavation of the ditch. No additional information was discovered on date or function. The feature was first documented in 1291 and 1323 in the Forest Pleas (graua voc. la More) and in the calendar of Patent Rolls 1464. It very likely takes its name from an area of common called 'the Moors' which lies to the North. <8> Probably a boundary ditch for the Royal Forest of Writtle. <9> Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import.