Harold Wood to Navestock Common - the Druid Temple (4K)

Walk from Harold Wood station across Central Park, Harold Hill and Dagnam Park to Noak Hill and Navestock Common in the London Borough of Havering in search of William Stukeley's 'temple of the Druids' that he identified in the 18th Century.
"In 1725 William Stukely came across a feature on Navestock Common which he described as a system of mounds and earthworks. He gave the site the name "alate temple of the druids" as part of the earthworks, according to Stukely, took the form of a wing (`ala' is Latin for wing). E A Rudge reports seeing earthworks in Mason's Plantation but their size and shape could not be deciphered as they were so overgrown. OS plan card shows a copy of Stukely's plan. Amember of the public (Mr Channon) had reported the flattening of mounds on the Mores Plantation. A site visit to confirm this was made by Havis and Medlycott (4/4/1992) who found that the brambles previously reported had been removed (1986 to 1991) revealing a series of earthwork banks surrounding a central circular mound. The central mound had been heavily quarried with a circle of trees interpreted as denoting the original edge of the mound. Havis suggests this represents a small motte and bailey or two adjoining baileys to the central motte. It is not clear whether this is the temple refered to by Stukely or if that is located at the western end of Mores wood."
unlockingessex.essexcc.gov.uk/...
Shot in 4k on a Panasonic GX80
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Fresh Fallen Snow
by
Chris Haugen

[@arthurscargill8010]

It's funny how walks sometimes seem to warn you off certain paths, and encourage you down others, and as a walker you have that dilemma, often made when really tired, of accepting the easy option that appears to be being presented, sold, to you or challenging it by slogging on, straight ahead, regardless. Thanks again John for another, very enjoyable, magical film.

[@patriciabean7083]

hi John, Great video. You always have a knack of capturing the right atmosphere of a place regardless of time of day or season. I come from Essex and studied its 'storied landscape' both growing up with a father obsessed by history, and,latterly,through academia. As far as the druids are concerned,no serious evidence has been recorded, so it's unlikely Stukely was barking up the right tree with that interpretation. I mean he was apt to see druids everywhere in the same way others see fairies! His theories on Stonehenge were likewise tarnished by that awenic association for centuries. Plenty of Iron Age settlements, barrows,cairns,livestock stockades and cursus though within your usual walking ambit. You might or might not be aware of the two 'hillforts' (Ambresbury & Loughton Camp)within Epping Forest which marked the boundaries of the Trinovantes and the Catevellauni tribes? Some nice abstract views to be had searching them out! There's also some interesting stuff around Loughton itself. Plus there's the famous Boxted Cross:a buried late neolithic henge,which is visible in places as cropmarks.More of which should be in evidence now after this long hot summer. I echo also what others have said about Weald Park. I did a survey up there many years ago. The coordinates,if it'll help,are: Brentwood (2km E)OS Ref (GB): TQ578946 / Sheets: 167, 177Latitude:51° 37' 39.12" NLongitude: 0° 16' 48.3". Essex is definitely a place of untapped morphic resonances and four thousand years of lost mystical psychogeography.The ghosts walk at your elbow-if you believe that type of thing! The film brought back many happy memories!

[@LiamOFarrell]

Another great one. No worries you didn't find the enclosure, You can come to our village in Somerset, and see our stone circle. Nothing mysterious however as it was put there in 1991 by Michael Eavis. Good old Glasto!

[@ReadySaltedCrisps]

The other side of The Manor to where you were is quite amazing! There's a huge plot of land, covered in gorse bushes. The deer usually gather on there. Watching the Rut around there is a sight to behold!

[@mariana4059]

Lovely walk - thank you, John! Perhaps in a couple of thousand years' time someone will be wandering across the landscape trying to find golf earthworks, denoting those sites where the ancient aristocracy of the 20th and 21st centuries worshipped by hitting small white balls until they disappeared into little holes in the ground...

[@SuperJack1953]

hi, I live in Adelaide, South Australia and grew up in Cheshunt. So I enjoy your walks. Reminds me of home and another time Thanks.

[@john80c]

Great walk -enjoyed the Dagnam Park wood-looked very ancient expected Saxon warriors to burst forth from among the trees.

[@keithjones3770]

I moved out to Australia in 2008. Seeing signs with Romford and Brentwood brought a lump to my throat. I came into this world at Harold Wood hospital.

[@Elephantsss]

I lived in 323 Dagenham PK Drive Harold Hill from 1955 to 61 age 6 to 12. The countryside was dense , wild and heaven for us kids to explore. I remember forest floors blanketed in blue bells , ponds with stickle backs and newts. some large ancient oak trees and of course there is was a myth about a "lady and the lake" , One day playing

[@roxysimmons]

Loved the look the horse was giving you!

[@CaroleMora22]

I love the wide green vistas, very beguiling....

[@causereffect4418]

Brilliant little find , thank you. 😌 I live next to Central Park , it is a beautiful place here. I like how many don’t realise the beauty round here or they will all wanna move here 😂 , I love how your video has captured the area in its true light.

[@davewelch9089]

Thank you John,

[@jonasranson7677]

Really fascinating to see this side of the river, having looked out on it as a child, living as I did at that time in a block of flats in Grays overlooking the Estuary on the Essex side.

[@whollyspokes3645]

Loved this

[@jobeyoung]

Very depressing seeing blocked paths, as usual excellent video.

[@esvarwyn]

Your films are so beautifully made, John. A real treat, thanks so much.

[@4thEyeVision]

Thanks John that was a great walk

[@nodarkthings]

Mythago Wood changed the way I look at woods! I was investigating some iron age square barrows on Beverley Westwood up here in East Yorkshire the other day, they're in the middle of a golf course funnily enough! It's amazing what survives hidden in obscure corners of fields. Sad, too, what has been erased. Some barrows near my home in Cottingham were shown on maps into the early 1900s but they've been completely ploughed out now.

[@voxley19]

Was so pleased to see you had posted another walk, and boy you didn't disappoint! This was a glorious walk and your commentary inspiring. By the way, "commons" can often be heavily wooded places- West Wickham Common in south London is an example of this.