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Garnetts Wood and Barnston Lays

Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Essex
Path, Garnetts Wood geograph.org.uk 400617
Path, Garnetts Wood geograph.org.uk 400617

Garnetts Wood and Barnston Lays is a 25 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest two miles south of Great Dunmow in Essex. It is owned and managed by Essex County Council "for quiet public recreation".The site is coppiced woodland, mostly ancient, on glacial silt, sands, gravels and clay soils. It contains some of the best lime woodland, which was once widespread but now rare, in the county. The ground flora are mainly brambles and dog's mercury, with some wood sorrel and bluebells. There are two ponds, which have the unusual water purslane. The woodland contains the rare wild service tree (Sorbus torminalis). There is access from Bishop's Green.The wood gets its name from the knight Geffrey Garnett who was given the wood in the 12th century by King Henry II. A statue was carved in its place. A plaque under the statue (since removed) read: "Over 800 years ago Geffrey Garnet owned and walked these woods. They were given to him in 1165 as a knights fee a gift of land big enough to support a knight. Then in the service of King Henry II. The same trees that grew then are growing today and still yielding a coppiced wood crop. Now Garnetts Wood belongs to you. Welcome to your woodland."

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Garnetts Wood and Barnston Lays (License: CC BY-SA 3.0, Authors, Images).

Garnetts Wood and Barnston Lays
Garnett's Wood Trail, Uttlesford High Easter

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Geographical coordinates (GPS)

Latitude Longitude
N 51.8389 ° E 0.374 °
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Garnett's Wood Trail

Garnett's Wood Trail
CM6 1ND Uttlesford, High Easter
England, United Kingdom
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Path, Garnetts Wood geograph.org.uk 400617
Path, Garnetts Wood geograph.org.uk 400617
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Little Dunmow Priory
Little Dunmow Priory

Little Dunmow Priory in Little Dunmow was an Augustinian priory in Essex, England. The priory was founded as a church by Juga de Baynard in 1104, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and consecrated by Maurice, bishop of London. Juga was the widow of Ralph Baynard, baron of Little Dunmow, sheriff of Essex and builder of Baynard's Castle in the City of London, since demolished. Her son Geoffrey was sheriff of Yorkshire who, in 1097, beat William II, Count of Eu in a trial by battle. After her death (c.1106), and following her wishes and the advice of Anselm, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Geoffrey populated Juga's church with Augustinian canons. In 1110, Lady Juga’s grandson, and Geoffrey’s son, William de Baynard, fell from grace and lost his lands. Henry I gave those lands to Robert Fitz Richard, but Henry and his wife Matilda of Scotland confirmed the canons’ possessions in Little Dunmow. Robert’s wife Maud, the step-daughter of Matilda’s brother David I, gave more lands to the canons, establishing the priory in perpetuity.Much of the history of Little Dunmow Priory was unremarkable, but in 1369, canon William de Stoke was arrested for counterfeiting the king's money.Never large nor rich, Little Dunmow Priory, assessed at around £150, came under the Suppression of Religious Houses Act 1535 and was closed down. Its lands were given to Robert Radcliffe, 1st Earl of Sussex. Although the monastic complex was destroyed, the lady chapel is still in use today as the parish church.The plan of the priory was determined by excavation in 1913 - 1914.