Pre-History and Glacial Erratics

The recently published Journal of the Essex Field Club for the year 2002/2003 contains a paper, written by Gerald Lucy, titled “Essex erratic boulders: a gazetteer”¹. An erratic is a large boulder that did not originate from its current position. During the Ice Age, the boulder would have been carried from its origin by a moving ice sheet and deposited on the melting of the ice in its present position. This would have occurred some 450,000 years ago.

The gazetteer notes that the vast majority of Essex boulders are sarsens and puddingstones, both extremely hard silica-cemented sandstones and conglomerates, respectively. The Essex boulders are distributed mainly in the northwest of the county (in the districts of Braintree, Chelmsford, Epping Forest and Uttlesford).

The search and recording of erratics in Essex has a history going back to 1830. The Journal paper, building on earlier recording, develops a gazetteer of known erratics in Essex. The list is limited to those boulders which are larger than approximately 150cm x 90cm x 45cm, following from the traditional measure of 5’ x 3’ x 1’6” used in the early recording. The quoted measurement records the size of that part of the stone that is visible. Generally, only those boulders that can be seen from the public highway are included. Often they are to be found in churchyards, and occasionally churches are discovered to have used a glacial erratic in their foundations.

One entry in the Journal records:
“Stanford Rivers
Hidden in the grass by the road near the entrance to St Margaret’s Church (TL 534009) is a sarsen (90 x 85).”

Are there more in the High Country?
We are able add one more to the list. An erratic sits outside Temple Cottage, near to Coleman’s Farm in Clatterford End, Toot Hill. The stone has been moved from the vicinity of Burrows Farm, about 300 metres to the north. The stone is visible from the bridle path. We have reported this to Gerald Lucy. Are there any more?