A Study of the Strood by W.E. Duane. Chapter 2. Page 8.

The Origins of the Island and the Strood contd.

... living under Roman influence. These remains can now be seen in Colchester Museum.

Mr Hazzledine Warren [ Note 1 ] says:-

"Half a mile to the N.W. of the mound is the artificial causeway known as the Strood-way, which connects Mersea Island with the mainland. This causeway forms a water parting between the Pyefleet Channel on the east and the Strood Channel on the west and is submerged only at high spring tides. It is commonly supposed to be a Roman work, but whether this is so or not, I am unable to say. I have not found any pottery or other relics in association with it. Immediately to the North of the mound, there is a spot where the Pyefleet Channel is crossed by an ancient and long disused ford made of hard material which must have been brought there artificially. It seems, to my mind, probable that it was this ancient ford, rather than the comparatively modern-looking Strood-way, which afforded means of access to Mersea Island at the date of the Barrow and constructed whenever that may have been".

Mr Hazzledine goes further and suggests that the Barrow was constructed to act as an intermediary signal station for the Romans. From the Castle at Colchester to Orthona, site of the Roman Fort at Bradwell, the Barrow is in direct line.

Traces of charcoal and other burnt material, such as would have been used for beacons, have been searched for on top of the Barrow but none have been found to substantiate this theory.

I studied last July copies of aerial photograph [Note 2] of the Pyefleet and these show the terrain in great detail.

Note 1. Trans. E.A.S. Vol.13. Page 119.
Note 2. 6" in aerial photographs C.P. Dept.

Date: 1965