From Corn to Cordite.

Copyright John Williams 2010

Chapter Thirty Seven.
Pitsea Hall Island and the Surroundings rea in !arlier Times.
Contents"
#oman times" Were the #omans in this rea$
What did Pitsea Hall Island loo% li%e in times past$
Sea level &hanges.
The 'loods o( 1)*+.
Salt Contamination.
The Pitsea ,rainage -oard.
Some interesting in(ormation a.out /ysters in Pitsea.
Is there any eviden&e o( non0me&hani&al agri&ulture a&tivity still evident$
The 1eado2 nt.
#idge and 'urro2.
'o..ing Horse.
#e(eren&es.
1eado2 nt Hills 1*)+.
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From Corn to Cordite. Copyright John Williams 2010
Chapter Thirty Seven " Pitsea Hall Island and the Surroundings rea In !arlier
Times.
#oman times" Were the #omans in this rea$
The amount o( 2ritten eviden&e on roman o&&upation that is pu.lished is
minimal. /ne &ould easily &ome to .elieve that Pitsea3 4ange and -asildon did
not e5ist .e(ore the dar% ges3 Canvey .eing an e5&eption. 6et us loo% at the
eviden&e that is pu.lished on #oman /&&upation. Canvey had the #ed Hills that
is said to represent pottery ma%ing in the #oman period. #oman mar&hing
&amp has .een glimpsed in Hadleigh3 a #oman 4illa in Thundersley3 #oman
-ri&%s have .een (ound in 4ange and in 1u&%ing a #oman settlement 2as
(ound. ,oes this tell us anything.
The &lassi&al histories tell us that the invasion o( -ritannia .y the #omans
started in , 78in 9ent at #utupiae 2hi&h is modern day #i&h.orough. They
2ould have mar&hed along the Thames to2ards 6ondon and that they eventually
settled in some areas .oth sides o( the #iver Thames. !ventually3 the importan&e
o( !sse5 (or the produ&tion o( ara.le &rops. In parti&ular urgent the need (or
vast amounts o( &orn (or (eeding the #oman soldiers and (or shipping to #ome
(or (eeding the slaves. Hungry slaves &ould revolt3 a 2orry (or #ome . See -ritish
gri&ultural History So&iety3 gri&ulture in #oman -ritain. Shimon
pple.aum.
The a.sen&e o( ma:or villas and ma:or roads is signi(i&ant inasmu&h that
important #omans 2ould not .e
seen dead living in the 2ilds o( the
Catuvellauni lands no2 %no2n as
!sse5. The area 2ould have .een
managed .y troops in rmy Posts
2ho &ontrolled and oversa2 the
produ&tion o( Corn et&. The Thames
2ould have .een the (avoured
method o( transportation delivering
the produ&ts to #utupiae that 2as
the most important port in
-ritannia so roads 2ould have .een
o( se&ondary importan&e.
There are some things that #omans
seemed to li%e. They en:oyed elevated positions
2here.y no one &ould &reep up on them. They
en:oyed the sun3 the 2inters 2ere 2et and the
summers 2arm. The 2eather3 in point o( (a&t3
the &limate 2as great (or gro2ing &orn.
148
The Importan&e o( ;rain to #ome
The appro5imate population o( #ome at
its pea% 2as a.out 1.2< million. 2<= 2ere
thought to .e slaves. ssuming that ea&h
slave &onsumed 1000%g o( grain per
annum. Then 8003000 2ell (ed slaves
2ould &onsume 8003000 tons o( grain.
Then assume that they 2ere on hal(
rations they 2ould &onsume 1<03000 tons
o( grain. gain assuming ea&h sea going
vessel su&h as the *001)0 (oot 'rumentaria
vessels &ould &arry 82 tons then 7<00
return :ourneys 2ould .e re>uired simply
to supply the (ood (or the slaves o( the
&apital &ity #ome. This puts into &onte5t
the importan&e o( grain supplies. The
#omans invented the (irst &orn harvester
and introdu&ed ?Spelt@ a damp resistant
&orn.
From Corn to Cordite. Copyright John Williams 2010
The #oman 2ould seiAe the opportunity to settle or o&&upy elevated areas
2ith a south (a&ing aspe&t so that they 2ould .e sure o( any sun that 2as
availa.le throughout the day. The #omans loved oysters and there is
&ir&umstantial eviden&e (or &ultivation o( oysters in the Pitsea area and the
#omans li%ed to .e near the sea.
n interesting (a&t to thin% a.out is that sea level 2as a.out 1< (eet lo2er
than today. It is almost impossi.le to visualise 2hat the &oast around 4ange and
Pitsea 2ould have .een li%e3 2e have to assume that mu&h o( the saltings and
estuarine mud 2ould not have .een present in #oman times. This &an .e
dedu&ed (rom the eviden&e that ships o( a.out 100 tons 2ere .uilt there in times
past.
I( 2e e5amine the situation in the south o( !sse5 2e (ind an interesting
opportunity. #unning (rom 1u&%ing to Hadleigh there are raised south0(a&ing
areas o( hilly land. These might have had some appeal (or #omans living in the
area. We &an say 2ith some &on(iden&e that Some #oman -ri&% or tile ma%ing
2ent on at 4ange3 perhaps at the no2 de(un&t .ri&% 2or%s. There is eviden&e
that /yster (arming too% pla&e at Pitsea.
What did Pitsea Hall Island loo% li%e in times past$
rtist@s impression o( the layout o( Tim.ermans Cree% in earlier days 2hen the
'leet 2as open to tidal a&tion. The area north o( rea 207 2as &alled /ld Cree%.
#esear&hing the area .y 2al%ing and e5amination o( the old maps indi&ate that
the area in dar% .lue 2ould have .een tidal prior to the Inning and !m.an%ing
2ith sea 2alls. The 'leet 2ould have e5tended mu&h (urther to2ards the land
a.utting the rail2ay line.
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From Corn to Cordite. Copyright John Williams 2010
s eviden&e o( the e5tent that the tide 2ill rea&h is this pi&ture that the author
too% (rom a .oat on a high tide in 1*)7. This is in the rea 1)7 on s%et&h on the
previous page.
The same part o( the &ree% in the 1*80@s 2here &hildren 2ould en:oy a s2im. The
development o( the se2age treatment 2or%s to the le(t o( the pi&ture stopped the
s2imming sessions. Photo &ourtesy o( the 1r 6en ustin a &hum o( the author.
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Sho2ing Pitsea Hall dating (rom the 1<
th
Cent. Bote that the drainage dit&h is
visi.le and .eyond to the area 2here the &ree%02ater still rea&hes at times on
high tide. Pitsea Hall estate o2ned the Pitsea Hall Island. 'or In(ormation on
Pitsea Hall see" #oyal Commission on Histori&al -uildings 1*22 PP10).
The /ld Cree% 2ould have .een at the position near the ne2 servi&e road
&rossing the (leet.

This photograph (rom 1*20 sho2s the area that is near to that o( the photo
a.ove. Bote the rail2ay &rossing gate. The roughly .uilt up road and the level o(
the original (looded ground should .e noted.
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From Corn to Cordite. Copyright John Williams 2010
later pi&ture vie2ed (rom the same dire&tion sho2ing the (looded marshy pond
area. C!#/ ,D,S1)7 S!#I!SE. #eprodu&ed .y Courtesy o( !sse5 re&ord /((i&e.
1ap o( area in the early 1*00@s sho2ing the pond and .uildings.
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Pi&ture sho2ing the improved road and some indi&ation o( improved drainage .
C!#/ ,D,S1)7 S!#I!SE #eprodu&ed .y Courtesy o( !sse5 re&ord /((i&e.
,etail o( photograph sho2ing Pitsea Chur&h loo%ing lonely on the hill 2ith it@s
eleven !lm trees. Some o( the (arm .uildings in the (ore0(ront 2ere destroyed
2hen the #ail2ay Company 2anted the land (or a yard. C!#/ ,D,S1)7
S!#I!SE. The .uilding at the end o( the ro2 2ith a &himney .e&ame the Pitsea
Smelting Company. C!#/ *7*F. -o5 )E Photo 2* sho2s this. #eprodu&ed .y
Courtesy o( !sse5 re&ord /((i&e.
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From Corn to Cordite. Copyright John Williams 2010
Photo (rom the 1*20@s sho2ing the &ree% at high 2ater please also note that the
area to the le(t that in not &ompletely (looded 2as the site &overed .y the
menity Tip.
The marshes in 1*80 (rom Pitsea Chur&h on the hill. 1arsh (arm is visi.le. The
area .e&ame the Cleana2ay Site and 2as &overed to some depth 2ith domesti&
and industrial 2aste.
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From Corn to Cordite. Copyright John Williams 2010
Sho2ing the e5tent that the &ree% and tidal 2ater 2ould have rea&hed .e(ore the
'leet 2as (ormed. The .ro2n areas are 2atery areas 2here reed .eds o(
(Phragmites australis) e5ist. /ne &an envisage ho2 di((erent the areas 2ould .e
today i( the 'leet had not .een (ormed.
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From Corn to Cordite. Copyright John Williams 2010
The Be2 #oad onto the Cleana2ay Site3 a lorry is driving through 2hat 2as to
.e&ome the Wat Tyler Par%. 6ittle Todhams and the ;uard House &an .e seen in
the .a&%ground. !arly 1*)0@s.
Sho2ing the s&ale o( the ne2 road.
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From Corn to Cordite. Copyright John Williams 2010
Sho2ing Be2 #oad a(ter 10 years3 note the gro2th and en&roa&hment o( the
reed0.eds.
Sho2ing ho2 mu&h siltation has ta%en pla&e in re&ent years3 The development o(
the menity Tip in&reased the a&tion .y slo2ing the (lo2 and e((e&tive tidal
height. In 1*2< a eye 2itness stated that .arges 2ould .e a.le to get to the
:un&tion o( these t2o &ree%s 2ith tim.er (or the 2ood0yard that is seen in the
.a&%ground. In mu&h earlier days .arges 2ould .e a.le to &olle&t .ri&%s (rom
the .ri&%0(ields in this area. -enham in ,o2n Tops@l says@ Behind Canvey
Island, up Hole Haven Creek, Curtis Brickfield at Vange !hich as long ago as
"#$#, had its Barge Inn %eside the %arge &uay) o!ned the Pitsea, Vange, and
the 'o%%ing () to $* thousand %rick craft) , and the $$ thousand %rick craft
Basildon, later sold to +llis, of ,tanford le Hope-
'rom this vie2 the .ri&%(ields are in the top le(t and the tim.er yard in the
middle right. The &ree% at the .ottom o( the pi&ture is &alled Tim.ermans Cree%
and oddly the one &loser to the Tim.er yard is &alled Pitsea &ree%.
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From Corn to Cordite. Copyright John Williams 2010
,ra2ing o( the .ri&%(ield tram2ay in early 1*00@s. Bote that Pitsea Cree% 2as
&alled 4ange Cree%. The dra2ing sho2s an area that 2as very .usy.

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From Corn to Cordite. Copyright John Williams 2010
Hand dra2n s%et&h o( the 2ood yard area in 1*F0@s. #. Court.
'o..ing Whar( early in the 20
th
&entury.
4ange Whar( in the 1*20@s C!#/ ,D,S1)7 S!#I!SE. #eprodu&ed .y Courtesy
o( !sse5 re&ord /((i&e.
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From Corn to Cordite. Copyright John Williams 2010
The 1ain #oad Pitsea.
Close up o( Pitsea Chur&h.
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From Corn to Cordite. Copyright John Williams 2010
/verlay o( the 1)27 tithe maps sho2ing the delineation and names o( the areas.
rea 'urthest Island 2* &re 8 #ood 2+ Per&h.
rea - 'irst Island 8F &re 1 #ood 1< Per&h.
rea C Part o( 'urthest Island 1F &re 1 #ood 1+ Per&h.
rea , Part 'irst Island 8 &re 1 #ood 11 Per&h.
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From Corn to Cordite. Copyright John Williams 2010
/verlay o( the 1)7+ tithe maps sho2ing the delineation and names o( the areas.
rea T2elve &re Island3 ra.le.
rea - T2enty &re Island3 ra.le.
rea C Si5teen &re Island3 ra.le.
rea , &re 1arsh 3Pasture.
rea ! !ighteen &re Island3 ra.le.
rea ' Cree% Pasture.
rea ; Seventeen &re Island3 ra.le.
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From Corn to Cordite. Copyright John Williams 2010
Image o( the an&ient north0south .oundary dit&h in the east o( the area la.elled
Cree% Pasture. The dit&h is no longer visi.le3 it 2as destroyed during par%
development. It &ould have .een seen on the right at the .ottom o( the 4alley
Path. It 2as dra2n on the map as the .oundary .et2een the areas mar%ed -
CT2enty &re Island3 ra.leE and ' Cree% Pasture.
Sea level &hanges
,uring e5&avation 2or% (or upgrading the entran&e to the par% road it &an .e
&learly seen that the original .la&% &ree% mud is visi.le and is only 12 to 1)
in&hes .elo2 the &urrent height o( the meado2 grass situated at the le(t
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From Corn to Cordite. Copyright John Williams 2010

Page (rom authors note.oo% o( an e5&avation 1*)) Cnot 1*F)E. This sho2s an
e5&avation at 2.))m /, and 1) in&hes C0.7<mE o( top re&ent .uilding alluvium3
the salting level 2ould have .een 2.72m .e(ore shrin%age. -e(ore the en&losure
o( the 'leet the tidal &ree% 2aters &ould &over this area at Spring tides.. It is not
%no2n 2hen the &ree% 2as sealed o(( (orming the 'leet. It &an .e in(erred that it
2ould have .een part o( the ma:or inning and sea 2all &onstru&tion o&&urring in
the period around 1F28 2hen the ,ut&h 2ere a&tive in this enterprise. The ,rain
that is mentioned is the drain that has .een evident on the earliest maps
availa.le.
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From Corn to Cordite. Copyright John Williams 2010
S%et&h map sho2ing the gap in the sea 2all that e5isted .e(ore 1)*<. -e(ore this
date an o&&asional (looding did no serious damage. When The -ritish !5plosives
(a&tory 2as &onstru&ted then damage to the produ&tion plant 2as inevita.le.
,uring 1)*+ on ?-la&% 1onday@ a tidal surge &aused 2idespread damage in
!sse5. This resulted in the gap in the sea 2all .eing &losed up. l( Cooper re&alls
that people still tal%ed a.out the amount o( 2or% that 2as done to prevent
(urther en&roa&hment3 Some 1) in&hes o( &lay 2as added to the height o( the
lo&al sea 2alls. The Clay 2as dug out (rom the sea2ard side o( the sea2all. This
raises an interesting solution to a puAAling area on the saltings near the sea 2alls
at the marina.
The 'loods o( 1)*+.
?.he day !as the "#
th
of /ovem%er "#01 and the !ind had s!itched
suddenly into the opposite direction from that it had %een %lo!ing the day %efore-
.he day !as overcast and dull, and the morning tide had e%%ed so far out that no
!ater could %e seen in the creek- 2fter dinner the tide suddenly appeared far do!n
the creek and rushing up !ith a ridge of !hite foam at its front edge- Very soon it
!as %reaking over the sea !alls, overflo!ing lo!3lying roads, houses and
%uildings-
C&ited .y J.H. !vans ?r&haeologi&al horiAons in the Borth 9ent marshes@3 r&haeologia
Cantiana FF C1*<8E3 p11)E.
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From Corn to Cordite. Copyright John Williams 2010
Salt Contamination o( 6and.
1ost areas 2ere a.le to gro2 &rops (airly soon a(ter (looding3 others had
good &rops (ive years later. nother pro.lem (or 'armers a(ter the (oods 2as the
&ontamination .y salt. /n the (looded (arm land the 2ater 2as o(ten pumped or
drained o((3 leaving .ehind a salt soa%ed soil. 'armers 2ere 2arned not to
&ultivate or drive on the soil. ;ypsum 2as spread over the (ields as soon as it
2as possi.le to get on the land this a&tion helped to &ountera&t the e((e&t o( the
salt. 'ollo2ing the 'loods o( 1*<8 the 2et summer helped to 2ash out the salt in
the soil. Without the a&tion o( gypsum in 1)*+ the land had ta%en 1< years to
re&over.
Sho2ing e5tent and lo&ation o( possi.le &lay removal (or topping the sea 2alls.
Sho2ing 2hat &ould .e &lay pits C-orro2 PitsE dug to use as &lay (or
topping the sea 2alls in 1)*+.
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From Corn to Cordite. Copyright John Williams 2010
This sho2s an an&ient dit&h3 this parti&ular and histori&ally important dit&h 2as
part o( the original drainage that 2as &reated at the time 'leet 2as sealed (rom
Pitsea Cree%. It is visi.le on the earliest maps. The .lue line on the map a.ove
sho2s the position.
The Pitsea ,rainage -oard
The Pitsea ,rainage -oard 2ere responsi.le (or the maintenan&e o( the
lo&al sea 2alls. The 1inutes o( the Pitsea ,rainage -oard are held in the !sse5
#e&ords /((i&e3 sadly the only re&ords that are availa.le are (or 1*1F to 1*82.
The maintenan&e and up%eep o( the sea 2alls too% mu&h o( their time. Here are
some lo&al e5amples that give a taste o( their duties"
The page num.ers re(er to the pages o( the 1inutes .
Page 87" 1r J.S. Bi&ol o( The -ritish !5plosives Syndi&ate C-!SE is noted as
Chairman o( the Pitsea ,rainage -oard. ,ated 28 ugust 1*1F.
#e(ers to tenders (or repair o( sea 2alls (rom Pitsea Hall to 6ittle 1ussels.
Page <0" Tenders" 1r B.! 'arr GF.8< 3 e>ual to G7.+.Fd per rod. C<mE
1r ,.J. Ja&%son G12 Drod
1r J.W. -ase G2 Drod
The >uotes 2ere deemed too high so the -oard de&ided to as% (or tenders again.
Page <2" ,is&usses (ishing rights on the Pitsea Hall 'leet3 de&ides that the -oard
2ill de&ide on any permit.
Page <7" 27.*.1*1*..
1entions that the prospe&tive &losing do2n o( -!S 2ould e((e&t the 2hole area
as regards #ating assessment.
#eported no more pro.lems 2ith trespassing .y a&&ess via slui&e gate at the
'a&tory.
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From Corn to Cordite. Copyright John Williams 2010
Page <F" pril 2)
th
1*203 1r Bi&ol reported that the assessment o( -!S@s
premium had not .een settled3 the old rate to &ontinue (or the moment.
1r Bi&ol said that the prospe&tive &losing do2n o( -!S 2ould e((e&t his position
as &hairman. nd he 2ould stand do2n at the end o( the &urrent year.
The -oard de&ided to give &ontrol o( the slui&e at Pitsea Hall 'leet to the ne2
li&ensees o( the Pitsea (a&tory that is the 1inistry o( Shipping (or the time .eing
and see ho2 it 2or%s out in pra&ti&e. Bote3 the 1inistry o( Shipping 2as (ormed
in 1*1701*1) then .e&ame Sea Transport ,ivision a.out 1*70.
Page <)" 17
th
July 1*20. The .oard 2ould no2 .e responsi.le (or the ne2 areas
o( 6eigh 1arshes 12+ &res3 Hadley 1arshes <00 &res3 and -en(leet
1arshes 1)0 &res.
Page F1. 6ast meeting 2ith 1r Bi&ol as &hairman
Page F7" 2) /&t 1*20. #e&eived ne2 tenders (or sea the 2all repairs (rom 1r
John -ass at G8 per rod.
Page +)" 18 Septem.er 1*22. Complaint that re(use 2as .eing dumped in the
marshes on the northern end o( 'o..ing Horse and is .eing 2ashed into
the &ree%. Protest lodges 2ith the P6.
Page )*" F
th
January 1*28. Bo.les Company mentioned in &onne&tion 2ith
en&roa&hment o( the saltings3 that the sea 2alls are .eing 2ashed a2ay.
Chal% needs to .e added to prevent en&roa&hment.
Page *1" F
th
January 1*28. The height o( the sea 2alls to .e (i5ed at 1F@(eet /.,.
Page 12+" 1)
th
Septem.er 1*2*. The Pitsea Hall slui&e %eys are to .e given to the
gate%eeper at the Pitsea (a&tory.
Page 181"11
th
Septem.er 1*2*. rea . Walls at Pitsea Hall .roadened and
topped (or distan&e o( 10 &hains. C1F< (tE.
Bote" a Chain is FF (eet C20 1E 7 #ods H 1 Chain.
Page 187" 27
th
Septem.er 1*80. PriAemans Jetty3 agreed to &utting the piers to
the level o( the 2all and not the e5&avate.
Page 18)" 2
nd
Septem.er 1*81. Botes that House.oats are .eing moored at 6eigh
and -en(leet &ausing damage. To .e treated as trespassers.
Page 170" 10
th
pril 1*82. #ate assessment (or the Pitsea 'a&tory to .e (i5ed at
1D8
rd
o( G8*0 i.e. G180. To 1inistry o( Shipping.
!#/ ,DS6 +. 1*1201*82. 1inutes o( Pitsea3 -o2ers ;i((ord and South -en(leet
,rainage -oard C?Pitsea ,rainage -oard@E
Some interesting in(ormation a.out /ysters in Pitsea.
,uring the &ourse o( e5&avations during .uilding 2or% the author
dis&overed large deposits o( old marine shells at some depth C1.<metersE .elo2
the present levels. The area in >uestion 2as the east side o( the road opposite Sea
transport .uilding Bum.er 8+ C6at. <1.<7<8<F. 6ong. 0.<08+F<E. This dis&overy
prompted the area to .e &alled /yster Cree%. (riend o( the author 2ho 2as a
Par% Warden in the early 1*)0@s des&ri.ed an o.servation that he had made
during the &onstru&tion o( a ne2 road in Pitsea 2here a large .ed similar to that
(ound in the Par% had .een e5posed.
The only &on&lusion that &an .e dra2n is that these .eds are possi.ly o(
#oman origin and demonstrated the passion that #omans had (or oysters3 not a
(e2 at a time .ut in large >uantities. While on the su.:e&t o( oysters3 ne5t time
you 2al% along the path (rom the marina in a north 2esterly dire&tion have a
loo% at line o( pools that run along the saltings parallel 2ith the sea 2all.
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There is &ir&umstantial eviden&e that these may have .een oyster .eds .ut more
pro.a.ly have .een made .y re0.uilders o( the sea 2all.

Position o( tren&h dug (or investigation.
S%et&h (rom authors Bote0.oo% &on&erning the /yster .eds.
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Is there any eviden&e o( non0me&hani&al agri&ulture a&tivity still evident$
The 1eado2 nt
The more %een eyed might noti&e mounds in various part o( the par% these are
the result o( a little &reature &alled 4asius flavus or the 1eado2 nt. The sight o(
su&h mounds is in&reasingly rare.
1eado2 nt 1ounds
In general3 ho2ever the meado2 ant mounds are (ound on south0(a&ing
slopes 2here the soil is very dry3 in many other distri&ts me&hani&al ploughing
and intensive (arming have eliminated su&h mounds or at least prevented their
gro2th to su&h a siAe. The reason (or the mounds e5isting at all is due to the ants
prodigious tunnelling a&tivities 2hen see%ing (ood. These ants ?(arm@ the (ield in
their o2n 2ay .y &ultivating aphids. The mound ma%es the &ontrol o(
temperature mu&h easier allo2ing the ants to shelter and prote&t the root0
(eeding aphids. 1u&h o( the area at Wat Tyler Par% had not .een ploughed .y
ma&hine sin&e at least 1))0 more li%ely the 1)70@s. The mounds are lo&ated in
part under the Ha2thorn or 1ay(lo2er Tree CCrataegus 5ongyna or
5onogynaEI this indi&ates that the Ha2thorn has gro2n over the mounds.
The author@s erial photographi& studies sho2 that the area 2as (airly &lear o(
ha2thorn gro2th .e(ore 1*72 a(ter this there 2as a rapid in&rease in Ha2thorn
&over.
/ther eviden&e that Pitsea Hall Island has not .een intensively ma&hine
&ultivated.
There 2as eviden&e that ridge and (urro2 2as pra&ti&ed on the island in
past times3 the lo&ation is sho2n on the plan. Jnder normal &ir&umstan&es the
ridges 2ere di((i&ult to see .ut the author 2as made a2are one .itterly &old day
2hen very (ine sno2 or (rost 2as .eing driven horiAontally. (ine layer o( (rost
.uilt up on one side o( the ridge ma%ing it very &lear to see. The pra&ti&e o( ridge
and (urro2 ploughing &ame a.out .e&ause the (armer 2ould have a long thin
strip o( land that 2as alongside a similar area .elonging to his neigh.our. The
regular ploughing along the same strip in the same dire&tion over the years
&aused a ripple e((e&t to appear.
There 2as a se&ondary e((e&t o( this pra&ti&e over random ploughing3 it
2as noti&ed that the &rops (rom the ridge and (urro2 (ield 2ere earlier and
.etter. It 2as the elevation o( the ridge that &aused this.
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#idge and 'urro2
The ridge 2as a.le to a.sor. the heat (rom the sun earlier in the day and &ould
remain 2arm later in the day Csee the e5planatory dra2ingE. Sadly due to par%
development the most pronoun&ed area o( ridge and (urro2 have disappeared
under the pro&ess o( development. It is still possi.le to see remnants o( the
(urro2s on very (rosty days.
Image o( #idge and 'urro2 at another site.
171
From Corn to Cordite. Copyright John Williams 2010
Sho2ing #idge and 'urro2 mar%s in 1*1+ in a rare aerial photograph
o( Stirling in S&otland. These mar%ings are still visi.le today. The arro2 points
to2ards north.
172
From Corn to Cordite. Copyright John Williams 2010
'o..ing Horse3 l( Cooper remem.ers the period 2hen
the 'o..ing Horse 2as an island separated .y 2ater at high
tide. It 2as de&ided in the late1*20@s to (ill the gap .et2een
and &reate a &ompletely dry area. The area is sho2n on the
dra2ing3 note the interrupted line that mar%s the -orough
.oundary. The method adopted 2as to sin% lighters and
.arges a&ross the entran&es and to (ill the lighters 2ith
&lay. Then the area .et2een then &ould .e (illed in allo2ing
a&&ess to the 2ater (ront. l( Cooper remem.ers that the
2ater in the &ree% 2as .la&% (or months. The P6 and the
6o&al authority 2ere not happy.
173
From Corn to Cordite. Copyright John Williams 2010
The Population o( Pitsea.
The population data given .elo2 sho2s that the population 2as e((e&tively .elo2
800 (rom 1)01 until 1))1 2hen an in&rease too pla&e. Consider the (a&t that the
(a&tory at Pitsea employed up to 100 people the impa&t 2ould have .een
signi(i&ant.
Kear 1)0
1
1)1
1
1)2
1
1)8
1
1)7
1
1)<
1
1)F
1
1)+
1
1))
1
1))
*
1*0
1
1*1
1
Pop 211 228 2)* 2+F 807 27F 2F8 2*2 2FF 817 7)* +21
!sse5 #evie2 L.22). 4i&torian History o( !sse5. 4ol. II. PP877.
Census 1*01 o( !&&lesiasti&al Parishes3 inha.ita.le houses 2ere <1 in 1)*1 and
)8 in 1*013 2ith populations given as 28< in 1)*1 and 8<) in 1*10.
,ata (rom the dministrative &oun&ils3 the Jr.an and ,istri&t &ensus gives the
(ollo2ing"
Pitsea had an area o( 1F*8 a&res. In 1*01 the num.er o( (amilies 2as )F rising to
1)< in 1*11 . Population is given as 8<) in 1*01 and +21 in 1*11.
!#/. TS 78D13 78D23 78D8. Census 1*01.
Population o( 4ange
Kear 1*0
1
1*11
Pop 120 1)8
#e(eren&es"
-eres(ord 1.W. #idge and 'urro2 and the open (ields. !&onomi& History
revie23 1*7)3 Bo 1 CSe&ond SeriesE LI.
Hos%ins W.;. The ma%ing o( the !nglish 6ands&ape. Hodder and Stoughton.
1*++.
Ho2ard. !. !sse5 Hedgero2s as landmar%s o( history. !sse5 revie2. 1*11. Bo
LL. Part +). pril. PP <+0+7.
9erridge. !. #idge and 'urro2 and grarian History. . !&onomi& History
revie23 1*<1 3 Bo 7 CSe&ond SeriesE LI. PP1708F.
,DS6 +. 1inutes (or 1*1F01*82. /( the ,rainage -oards (or Pitsea3 -o2ers
;i((ord and South -en(leet ,rainage -oard minutes.
Photos re(erred to are &ourtesy o( the !#/. 'rom ,D,S1)7 S!#I!S. Photos
(rom l(red Padgett 6eigh3 &1*20.
!sse5 #evie2 L.22).
4i&torian History o( !sse5. 4ol. II. PP877.
!#/. TS 78D13 78D23 78D8. Census 1*01.
Wimpey 6a.oratories #eport. #e( Bo SD271)F.
174