There's an inscription next to one of the cut-throughs saying it was done in 1884, but whether that's authentic I don't know
Thank You! somehow I missed that, I think I was getting jittery from the pitter patter of "rain" (sand and pebbles) in the shaft area which I take as a very bad omen underground. I wonder if the stacked block "sculpture" is the same age. Thanks for the 1884 tip - when you know what to search for it is much easier to find things. I'd say that date is very likely genuine.
Which tunnel is that engraved by (I have a mind to go back some time, so no worries if you don't remember). There was a sudden flurry of exploration, both learned and best of all... mischievous, in the 1880s. I'm grateful to the diggers because the air was safe (meter) but a bit of LEL kicked up (methane?) at times, I'd rather not explore places if H2S, CO2, CH4 are being spicy so a bit of airflow is always good in my book
EXCURSION TO THE DENEHOLES OF HANGMAN'S
WOOD, NEAR GRAYS THURROCK, ESSEX.
(In connection 7uitk tlte Essex Field Ctub.)
IITH AND 12TH AUGUST, 1893.
Directors:-T. V. HOLMES, F.G.S., AND W. COLE, HON. SEC.,
E.F.C.
(Report by T. V. HOLMES.)
<previous text removed> "...The Essex Naturalist for January and February,
1888. It is gratifying to be able to state that Prof. T. G. Bonney,
in acknowledging the receipt of a copy of the Denehole Report,
remarked that he thought our conclusion that the Hangman's
Wood pits had been originally used mainly as granaries a very
probable one; adding that subterranean granaries resembling
them existed in Syria.
It was a matter of considerable interest to the Directors to
note the changes that had taken place since the conclusion of
the exploration in 1887. For their tunnels had allowed currents
of air to pass through many pits previously closed and stagnant.
No appreciable change for the worse, however, seemed to have
been caused by the ventilating currents, though much harm had
resulted from the mischievous stupidity of unauthorised persons
who had visited the pits..."
