This standing stone was spotted just outside Hatfield Forest, north east Essex. Although it has clearly been set up by a farmer just outside his farmhouse as an interesting feature, the stone itself does look very old and extremely weathered. It is some kind of conglomerate with many small pebbles ingrained in the rock. Surely someone trying to manufacture a megalith would not use this kind of stone as it doesn’t look especially mythic or impressive. However its shape is certainly very like some of the smaller standing stones at Avebury. So if a forgery a clever one…
PS I hear rumours of a church somewhere in Essex that is supposed to have a ring of buried megaliths all around the edge of the grave yard. I hope to report on this properly at some point in the future. Any pointers gladly received…
Urthona – Buddhism & art 
Could you kindly report national grid reference for position of this stone outside of Hatfield Forest parkland in Essex. There are others semi submerged by the lake inside the park. The Essex Church where megaliths surround churchyard is likely Alphamstone. A recognised site but explained as erratics although many others in the vicinity. trui9999@yahoo.co.uk
Thanks for tip about Alhamstone, sorry I cant quite recall the exact location of the Hatfield one, I encorntered it while walking from Bishops Stortord railway station to Hatfield forest.
Well, thanks for reply. Armed with the photo & your direction of walk, should be able to locate when ready to go. Presume you didn’t walk along the route of the straight road to Takeley? Have a knack for finding such. Would you know of the Pledgeon stone not that far away?
Will get back to you when I have the co-ordinates.
Grateful for assistance
I looked on the OS mag, it may be the stone was at the entrance to Harps Farm, near Bishops Stortford, but I cannot be sure. Definatly I would say it had been errected by the farmer, but presumably he found it somewhere nearby which is interesting in itself.
Thanks for that clue. Did you reach it from the cross country footpath from B.Stortford then & then pass by The Hop Poles PH if you can remember?