Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Moat Wood, also known as Lomewood, in Nettlestead is reputed to be the site of a manor belonging to the Earls of Gloucester. It was given by one of them to a cloister of canons at Tonbridge Priory, dedicated to St. Friswith. After the Dissolution it became the property of the Roydens and Twisdens. The medieval house has disappeared but, when the wood is cut back, the moat which surrounded the building can be traced. It is an earthwork motte and a moat. The property may have been called Hale Place and had the moat, ponds and a mill associated with it. Hale Park Wood and Milbay Wood are close by and a path leads to Maidstone Road at Nettlestead Green. This in turn runs into Hale

Street.

Monument Types

• HOUSE (Demolished, Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)

Full description

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Lomewood, sometimes called Moatwood. Now there are only farm-buildings but it was a manor which first belonged to the Earls of Gloucester, was settled by one of them on Tonbridge Piory and after the Dissolution descended with the Roydens and Twisdens. The old house has quite disappeared but when the wood is cut the moat which surrounded the building can be readily traced. (1) [Centred at TQ 67425134] "There is a good earthwork motte and a moat. Saw it c. 1930 but could not find it again in 1949 - heavy thunderstorm." (2) [Add. ref. to descent of manor: Lomewood.] (3) "Lomewood (Now Moat Wood).. formerly belonged to a cloister of canons at Tunbridge dedicated to St. Friswith and by the vestige of a moat, Ponds and a Mill shews it once to have been a capital seat but who were the ancient possessors of it we are now at a loss to know, some say the seat was called or known by the name of Hale Place as the land lying round it (Hall) or Hale Park perhaps from its vicinity to Hale Street a high road leading from the place to the said street doubtless the ancient road to the Mill H. Another road led to it out of the high road near to Nettlestead Green and another road from the farther end of the Green. The scite of this place is woody..." (4) As thorough an inspection as possible was given to this thickly wooded and overgrown area but without success. Neither Mr. Cook (a), owner of the estate, nor his head-keeper Mr. Wood, had any knowledge of a moat or mill. (For the mill-bay of the mill referred to see TQ 65 SE 14). (5) Additional bibliography. (6)(7)

<1> A Saunter thro' Kent with pen and pencil 2 1914 19-20 (C Igglesden) (OS Card Reference). SKE32844.

<2> Corr. 6" (R F Jessup 1949) (OS Card Reference). SKE39298.

<3> History of Kent 5 1798 123 (Hasted) (OS Card Reference). SKE44128.

<4> MS Account of the Parish of Wateringbury 1781 64 (E Greensted) (poss Maidstone Museum) (OS Card Reference). SKE47452.

<5> Letter dated 19 01 59 Mr A Cook Royden Hall Tonbridge (OS Card Reference). SKE46094.

<6> F1 CFW 29.01.59 (OS Card Reference). SKE42802.

<7> Arch Cant 93 1977 222 (T Tatton-Brown) (OS Card Reference). SKE36151.

<8> Moated Site Research Group 6 1979 (ed C J Bond) 47 (OS Card Reference). SKE47243.

<9> Field report for monument TQ 65 SE 13 - January, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3420.

Sources and further reading