Page:VCH Essex 1.djvu/363

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ANCIENT EARTHWORKS earlier, mainly because the fosse or moat proper to it has been at some period obliterated by the southern moat of the hall, which, though now filled up, is easily detected. The mound-keep, never large, has been mutilated, but the plan and section show its present condition. The size of the banking outside A the keep-fosse, on the south-west side, indicate considerable protective work, and for the greater part of the circumference the moat or fosse is still in evidence. SAFFRON WALDEN. Traces of earthwork defences are around the castle of Geoffrey de Mandeville on 3" Bury Hill, the highest point in the town ; they are however too slight to warrant detailed mention here. The interest of the place centres in the ruined castle of the Norman lords rather than in the possibly earlier earthworks. RICKLING. TANSTED. ESSEX. STANSTED MONTFITCHET. To tell the story of the Norman Gernons or of the Montfitchets would be trespassing on ground to be covered by other writers, but we may mention that it is thought that the castle 301