The history of Hatfield Forest through the Ice-Bronze-Iron-Age
About 200,000 years ago the ice sheet cover in East Anglia ended around the Hatfield Forest area, depositing muddy debris, including chalky boulder-clay embedded with rocks. These rocks were to be used in buildings, and can be seen in local churches today.

After the 1st Ice Age there was a warm interglacial period in which trees and plants returned to the area for many thousands of years. This was followed by the second Ice Age. Though less severe for the Hatfield/Essex area than for other areas, the advancing ice turned the land into a form of Tundra.

The second Ice Age ended around 11,000 BC, whem the climate gradually returned to something similar to todays. Slowly the trees and plants returned with scrub and coarse vegetation establishing themselves first. The first trees to return were Arctic birch, aspen and willow, followed later by pine, hazel, alder, and oak. Finally holly, ash, hornbeam and maple.

Palaeolithic stone tools have been found in Essex indicating that humans have lived in the Hatfield/Essex area ever since the 1st Ice Age. A Mesolithic flint tool was found in Gravel Pit Coppice, evident of hunting activity in this area over 10,000 years ago.

This nomadic way of life rapidly transferred into the Neolithic period, (4500 BC) onward. People started to cultivate crops in clearings, domesticate livestock, and build simple but permanent houses and earthworks creating small-scattered groups and settlements. People began harvesting wood from the forests for building, fencing, tools, weapons, cooking and fire.

At the end of the Neolithic period (2400BC), the area of rough farmland, and wood- pasture had increased. Large trees would have been unmanageable and of little use, smaller trees were used to make rods and poles. By cutting down small trees it was discovered that they grew again.

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Preserved wooden structures have been discovered in the Somerset levels. These structures were hurdles and wattle work (used for building walls). It was apparent that the wood used had been derived from coppice produce. These techniques could well have been used in Essex during the same period.

In the Bronze Age (2400-750BC) human activity in the Hatfield Forest area left us more evidence. For example, a late Bronze Age settlement was discovered close to Stansted Airport and Great Dunmow. A collection of broken tools from this period was also uncovered at nearby Hatfield Park.

With the coming of the Iron Age, the landscape began to change. People manufactured axes and ploughs of strong and much sharper iron, and so land could be more easily converted. The converted wildwood land was used more for pasturage rather than cultivation; it also provided leaves (used for fodder) nuts, berries and some shelter. By the end of the Iron Age open fields (plains) with scrub, and a basic system of coppices and pollarding was being established.

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Settlement at Portingbury Hills
Portingbury Rings is an area of ancient earthworks found in Beggars Hall coppice in the north-west of the Forest. The main rectangular mound is approximately 100 by 70 feet and is surrounded by a ditch 25/35 feet wide, with a flat top. Evidence from an investigative dig suggests that the original ditch surrounding the mound would have been 6-7ft in depth forming a ‘V’ shape. This suggests a possible enclosure with timber supported earth ramparts. Attached to this is a sausage shaped mound, and to the east are two zigzagging banks, which do not form a complete enclosure. Similar weaker banks appear to cross the Shermore Brook into Spittlemore coppice.

The original purpose of these structures is not totally clear. It would have been too small as a hill-fort and is not in a defensible position. It was more likely to have been a farmstead with minor defences. In 1964/65 an archaeological group carried out an investigative dig. Finds were few but sufficient to establish an Iron Age dating.

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The Romans and the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons
The Romans dominated the area for the next 400 years (40AD to 410AD) Essex prospered and became very agricultural. The remaining woodland played an important role in supplying fuel for use in the local community, brick making, iron smelting, pottery, glass, heating baths and villas. A Roman farm village was discovered when Stansted Airport was under construction. In 1979 Roman pottery was found in Collins coppice. Both the ancient churches of Great and Little Hallingbury, which lie to the west of the Forest, are full of Roman brick, and it is thought to stand on the site of old Roman villas.

With the collapse of the Roman Empire came the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons. This would undoubtedly have caused disruption, but country life around Hatfield persisted. The Roman roads and field systems could not have survived if not used. With the Anglo- Saxon arrival the Forest acquired its name. Hatfield comes from the Anglo-Saxon word Hoep-Field; its modern meaning is Heathfield. Hoep=healthland. Field meaning not field, but open space in sight of woodland. Hatfield we presume came with the patches of gravel making the heath possible.

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The Domesday Book 1086
The Domesday Book (an immense survey of England conducted by William the Conqueror in 1086) mentions Hatfield by name. Between 1066-1086 Hatfield Forest was one of the largest estates in Essex. The Forest was under the ownership of King Harold and was passed onto William as a crown estate following Harold’s death in battle. An entry in the survey refers to 800 swine on the estate and would therefore suggest an area of approximately 1000 acres, roughly the same size as today.

The Domesday Book portrays Hatfield as a thriving community with a population of approximately 600 people, scattered in townships. There is no mention of Hatfield having a separate forest. The woodland area in the Estate had commoner’s rights, which we believe preserved Hatfield from being grubbed out, as were the great woods and forest, which adjoined Hatfield.

Hatfield’s twin forest is Writtle, which is still in private ownership, and less well preserved. Most of its pollards were lost long ago, as well as some of its plains. It is still a wild lovely place with many public footpaths running through it. Essex had five other notable forests near by, but now greatly depleted of most of its lands and woodland management. Waltham Forest Estate (once 60,000 acres, now all that is left is Epping Forest) Hainault, Kingswood and Enfield Chase and sadly other woodlands are now lost forever.

Acknowledgement
Hatfield Forest is most grateful to Oliver Rackham, whose book 'The Last Forest' has been an invaluable source of information.

Written by David E Kidner, National Trust volunteer, Nov 2002.