Warspite1 | 21 Jan 2021 7:16 a.m. PST |
The recent flooding has revealed the shape of an ECW star fort near Earith in Cambridgeshire: link Once you get past the advert there is aerial or drone footage of the site. Water always finds the lowest point which, in this case, was the ditch around the star fort, throwing its ramparts into high relief. More here: ecastles.co.uk/earith.html The full Historic England listing is here: link Very detailed this also reveals that there is a WW2/Home Guard Alan-Williams turret surviving in one corner. About 199 of these revolving steel turrets were built 1940-41 but less than 25 are known to survive. Barry |
KeepYourPowderDry | 21 Jan 2021 7:29 a.m. PST |
Earith bulwark is a strange one, quite difficult to visit or see. Firstly it's on private land (no public access), then it's actually quite subtle. Doesn't have the imposing presence of Newark's Queen's Sconce. This is probably the best way to see it – drone footage when it is flooded. Second time it has flooded in recent months. There's a fair bit of footage knocking around of it. |
Warspite1 | 21 Jan 2021 7:31 a.m. PST |
@KeepYourPowderDry: I have added the Historic England link which gives a very detailed history and description. Barry |
DisasterWargamer | 21 Jan 2021 7:55 a.m. PST |
Thanks for sharing good stuff |
myrm11 | 21 Jan 2021 7:59 a.m. PST |
Its fairly visible on Googlemaps – the field markings the bulwark leaves can be seen just to the east of Earith itself. |
BillyNM | 21 Jan 2021 8:52 a.m. PST |
Flooding highlights perhaps, but doesn't reveal as it's been known and visible for years. Sort of a non-story. |
KeepYourPowderDry | 21 Jan 2021 9:52 a.m. PST |
Thanks warspite, I'd noticed. I know the bulwark quite well, having visited a number of times. It featured on my blog a couple of years ago alongside the Cromwell Museum. The museum had a lovely model on display (not sure if it is still on display as I haven't visited since the renovations). There's a bridleway which goes quite close to one corner. Parking details here link The HE report states that the ditch/bank height is 1.7m in difference. In real life it isn't as noticeable as that difference would suggest (especially when viewed from afar). It really comes into its own when it floods. Some of the aerial photos of the bulwark look very impressive with the right light – you just don't get that imagery from the bridleway. A drone really does give the best view in the house. I'd even say the same for the Queen's Sconce, which is much more imposing, and very impressive. |
Warspite1 | 21 Jan 2021 10:58 a.m. PST |
@BillyNM: There is no suggestion that this is a new discovery. Historic England are pretty good at keeping track of sites and (as KeepYourPowderDry states) it is well known. The point of the story, and my link, is that the current flooding had the unforeseen benefit of throwing the (now) shallow defences into very sharp relief in much the same way that drought conditions can cause sites to become visible due to parch marks, etc. When the water goes down in a day or two the contrast effect will be lost. Near to me is Holkham Camp, an Iron Age site on a low island in what were once coastal marshes. link The above shot just about shows it but when the ditches flood it becomes much more visible. Barry |
Shagnasty | 21 Jan 2021 11:09 a.m. PST |
I'd like to see these photos but I decline to allow Yahoo/Verizon to "manage my personal data." Thinks for bringing it to our attention. |
newarch | 21 Jan 2021 11:20 a.m. PST |
That is fantastic, thanks for posting. No news story of this kind ever escapes without being labelled an exciting new discovery, its a sort of inescapable media trope. |
KeepYourPowderDry | 21 Jan 2021 11:30 a.m. PST |
Here's a link to the story on the BBC link |
UshCha | 21 Jan 2021 1:58 p.m. PST |
Warspite1, Thanks its makes it much clearer like this. |
Shagnasty | 22 Jan 2021 6:05 p.m. PST |
Thank you KeepYourPowderDry. That is a terrific photo. |