Hangman's Wood

Coordinates: 51°29′23″N 0°20′52″E / 51.4896°N 0.3477°E / 51.4896; 0.3477

Hangman's Wood
Name sign for Hangman's Wood
Hangman's Wood  Hangman's Wood shown within Essex
OS grid reference	TQ630793
Unitary authority	Thurrock
Shire county	Essex
Region	East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Police	Essex
Fire	Essex
Ambulance	East of England
EU Parliament	East of England
UK Parliament	Thurrock
List of places UK England Essex

Hangman's Wood is a triangular wooded area of Little Thurrock in Essex, England. The name Hangmans Wood dates back to at least the mid 17th century when it was recorded on an estate map.^[1] Trees in the wood include oak, ash, sycamore and wild cherry.

The wood contains a number of deneholes which were investigated by the Essex Field Club at the end of the 19th century.^[2] There is normally no access to the deneholes, but permission can be obtained from the council.^[3] The deneholes are the most important underground hibernation sites for bats in Essex,^[4] causing the wood to be a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest. There are three bat species; Brown long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus), Natterer's bat (Myotis nattereri) and Daubenton's bat (Myotis daubentonii).

The deneholes in the wood, which were sometimes known as Cunobeline's gold mines,^[5] are described by English Heritage as medieval or post-medieval and were used for chalk or flint mining.^[6] They are a scheduled ancient monument. The origin of these deneholes is discussed by Tony Benton.^[2] There appears to have been more than 70 holes in the wood at one time, concentrated to the north of the wood. Most only survive now as shallow dips in the ground.

The bridlepath which crosses Grangewood Avenue and runs beside Woodside School to connect Hangman's Wood with nearby Terrel's Heath is part of an ancient route from Coalhouse Point in East Tilbury to the bridge or causeway at Aveley.^[7]

Notes

1. ↑ FG Emmison, ed. (1947). Catalogue of Maps in the Essex Record Office. Essex County Council. p. 6a. 
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Tony Benton, Boldly from the Marshes
3. ↑ The council will issue a descent licence for those who are prepared to abide by a number of simple rules and fill in an insurance slip. The address is: Recreation Manager, Recreation Department, Blackshots Lane, Grays, Essex, RM13 2JU.
4. ↑ English Nature file
5. ↑ Thomas Wright (1834), The picturesque beauties of Great Britain 
6. ↑ Pastscape - Detailed Result: HANGMANS WOOD DENEHOLES
7. ↑ Benton, Tony (1991). Boldly from the marshes. Thurrock Council. pp. 86–87. 

v t e Thurrock Traditional parishes in Thurrock Aveley Bulphan Chadwell St Mary Corringham East Tilbury Fobbing Grays Horndon-on-the-Hill Little Thurrock Mucking Orsett South Ockendon Stanford-le-Hope Stifford West Thurrock West Tilbury Other places in Thurrock Baker Street Biggin, Essex Bill Meroy Creek Chafford Gorges Nature Park Chafford Hundred Hangman's Wood High House, Purfleet Lower Horse Mardyke (river) Orsett Heath Purfleet Rainham Marshes Nature Reserve Shell Haven Terrel's Heath Thurrock Thameside Nature Park Tilbury Town