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Monument details

HER Number:	TQ 67 SW 1543
Type of record:	Monument
Name:	"Sweyns camp", possible medieval motte or prehistoric barrow? - Pit VII

Summary

Former site of earthworks, once thought to be a medieval motte but which may equally represent a prehistoric barrow.

Location accurate to 5m based on available information

Parish:	SWANSCOMBE AND GREENHITHE, DARTFORD, KENT

Monument Types

MOTTE (MOTTE, Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)

Full description

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Pit VII north of Sweyn's Camp [OE] (1) [TQ 60307355] CASTLE [GT] (Site of) (2) Sweyn's Camp, earthwork in Swanscombe Park. Known by this name since 1890 and probably formerly called 'the Folly'. A circular earthwork evidently a motte, almost certainly Norman. There is no indication of a bailey. Some nine pits, to the north of the camp, which are regular in form are probably the sites of dwellings. Pits V & VI were partly excavated to the undisturbed clay. Fragments of a 15th.c.costrel were found in pit V with some fragments of iron. In 1928 the earthworks were destroyed. (3) Complete destruction confirmed. (4)

In fact the interpretation of the earthworks as representing a motte is questionable. The only medieval evidence is the 'costrel' (a flask in this case made of pottery) and at 30m wide it would seem rather small for a motte. The site may represent a large barrow similar to that 1.5 km to the west (TQ 57 SE 9)

Location accurate to 5m based on available information

SWEYN'S CAMP, SWANSCOMBE (Collection). SKE6521.

<1> O.S. 6" 1910 (OS Card Reference). SKE47819.

<2> O.S. 6" 1938 (OS Card Reference). SKE47824.

<3> Arch. Cant. Vol. 41 1929 pp. 13- 17 plan; showing 8 pits (A. H. A. Hogg) (OS Card Reference). SKE37089.

<4> F2 CFW 25-JUL-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE43278.

<5> Field report for monument TQ 67 SW 47 - July, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3676.

Sources and further reading

Cross-ref.	Source description
---	Collection: SWEYN'S CAMP, SWANSCOMBE.
<1>	OS Card Reference: O.S. 6" 1910.
<2>	OS Card Reference: O.S. 6" 1938.
<3>	OS Card Reference: Arch. Cant. Vol. 41 1929 pp. 13- 17 plan; showing 8 pits (A. H. A. Hogg).
<4>	OS Card Reference: F2 CFW 25-JUL-59.
<5>	Bibliographic reference: Field report for monument TQ 67 SW 47 - July, 1959.

Related records

TQ 67 SW 47

Part of: "Sweyns camp", possible medieval motte or prehistoric barrow? (Monument)