Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

The approximate site of an alleged stone circle or megalithic chambered tomb at Cobham. Although there are records of sarsens being removed from the area during the 18th and 19th centuries, suggestions that a megalithic monument appear to originate in a story told to FC Lukis in the 1840s. The veracity of the story told to Lukis is uncertain, to say the least, and although naturally occurring sarsens are known from the area, some of which have been used in recent times for various purposes, there is no evidence to support the former existence of the Cobham megalith.

Monument Types

• STONE CIRCLE (STONE CIRCLE, Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2351 BC)

Full description

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[TQ 66836869] Stone Circle [NR] (Site of) (1)
On the N.W. side of the church at Cobham at John Gill's cottage, there is a single block of stone in his orchard and garden, on the side of a pond. Gill said that many years ago Lord Darnley destroyed a stone structure which stood in that spot using the stones for a rockery in the garden near Cobham Hall. He also said that the lane was said to lead to the 'Warrior's Grave'. The rockery was examined and confirmed the above. (2) Between Cobham Street and Owletts is an ancient way called Battle Street running parallel to Pilgrim Lane. Between these roads in the meadow to the eat of Owletts was a collection of huge sarsen stones, the spot being marked in the 6" map "Druids Temple (site of)". It was also called the "Warrior's Grave". There is every reason to suppose that a Cromlech occupied the site, the stones now having been removed to the pleasure gardens of Cobham Hall. Extracts from the diary of Richard Hayes mentions the removal of some of the stones in 1770-3, and of their setting up as gate posts at his house and cowyard at Owletts, where he resided. (3)
"With regard to the reputed cromlech at Cobham, I could learn nothing of it from the labourers about there; a large block of indurated gravel between the railway and Cobham Lodge Farm was pointed out, and some stones in Shorne Wood, n. of Cobham Park, consisting of one small piece of sarsen stone and one or two squared pieces of building stone; all the other lately removed from the wood were squared likewise." (4)
The Cobham Megalith. Near Cobham in an orchard off Battle Street, there remains today one sarsen of the megalith reputed to have been there. That there once existed a large group of stones here is certain from the extracts of the diary of the farmer, who carted many of them away. It will be noted however, that Gill's story was told some 70 years after the destruction of the 'supposed tomb'. Thus the evidence for a megalith is very weak, and the story may have evolved from a group of sarsens coupled with the street name. (5)
The site of the sarsen group occupies a slight rise; it is under potato crop and nothing of significance was noted. 40 metres to the east, on the opposite side of the lane, excavaton for a new bungalow has revealed a further two sarsens. The first is 1.3m. Long 0.6m. Wide and 0.3m. Thick; it had been removed and was lying loose. The second is still in situ, recumbent under 0.6m. Of undisturbed soil, the exposed area measuring 2.5m. Long, and 0.4m. Thick. It is situated at TQ 66886870 but it will obviously have to be removed as it projects into the intended drive to the bungalow. Whether these stones formed part of the alleged circle, or whether they are part of a natural outcrop of sarsens is problematical. The rockery at Cobham Hall is centred at TQ 68546898. The concentration at Owletts is centred at TQ 66476871. (6)
Checked and correct. (7)
Additional bibliography. (8-10)

<1> OS 6" 1897 (OS Card Reference). SKE48312.

<2> JBAA 1st series vol 9 1854 427 (FC Lukis) (OS Card Reference). SKE44881.

<3> Coll Cant 1893 152-3 (G Payne) (OS Card Reference). SKE39135.

<4> Arch Cant vol 13 1878 14 (Flinders Petrie) (OS Card Reference). SKE36373.

<5> Arch Cant vol 63 1950 75-7 (JH Evans) (OS Card Reference). SKE36416.

<6> F1 CFW 06.07.59 (OS Card Reference). SKE42445.

<7> F2 FGA 13.10.64 (OS Card Reference). SKE43321.

<8> Ant 35 1961 151-52 (HA James) (OS Card Reference). SKE33112.

<9> Field report for monument TQ 66 NE 4 - July, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3492.

<10> Field report for monument TQ 66 NE 4 - October, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3493.

Sources and further reading