The area was still a remote and barren heathland, and much of it was common land used by the inhabitants for livestock and by the poor for wood and turves.
The embankment was between 11and20 ft high, and was made of sand, covered in turves.
The walls of the houses were originally made of turves, clay or wood, most of the houses that survive today, however, have brick walls.
Finally, at great expense he had to send one of his own vehicles to get those turves.
