Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A footpath/trackway between grid reference 618387, 158905 at its junction with Stodmarsh Road, and a point 618670, 157931 close to where the Littlebourne Road crosses the Lampen stream, may represent the former lane known in the medieval period as Organ Lane. This lane was important for

connecting settlements on the south side of the River Stour to the lowest fording point and port of

Fordwich.

The lane is referred to by C.E. Woodruff in his book A History of the Town and Port of Fordwich, where he states it to be a continuation of ‘the ancient track-way to the ford’, formerly known as the ‘old way leading through the King’s Park’ (this ancient trackway is now known as Well Lane). Woodruff quotes from The Ancient Book of the Decrees of the Town of Fordwich, 1685, which provides a significant amount of detail about Organ Lane and its precise direction and location on the Moat lands 'taken out of an ancient MS.', and indicates that the lane was believed to have been stopped up between 1504 and 1509 by Thomas Turberville, who dwelt at the Manor of Moat.

Monument Types

• ROAD (Medieval - 1066 AD? to 1504 AD?)

Full description

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A footpath/trackway between grid reference 618387, 158905 at its junction with Stodmarsh Road, and a point 618670, 157931 close to where the Littlebourne Road crosses the Lampen stream, may represent the former lane known in the medieval period as Organ Lane.

There is additionally LiDAR evidence of a curving sunken track in Moat Rough centred on 618419, 158435 (not currently marked on OS map as a footpath) running NNE to SSE; this section enables the likely line of the entire medieval track through the Moat lands to be traced, corresponding to the documentary evidence. Organ Lane is referred to by C.E. Woodruff in his book A History of the Town and Port of Fordwich (Canterbury: Cross and Jackman, 1895, pp. 116-117), where he states it to be a continuation of ‘the ancient track-way to the ford’, formerly known as the ‘old way leading through the King’s Park’ (this ancient trackway is now known as Well Lane). Woodruff quotes (ibid, pp. 3-4) from The Ancient Book of the Decrees of the Town of Fordwich, 1685 (Canterbury Cathedral Archives: CCA-U4/19/1), which provides a significant amount of detail about the lane and its precise direction and location on the Moat lands 'taken out of an ancient MS.', and links it to the nearby "King's tenement of Wykes”, or Wyke Manor (TR 15 NE 1929)

Just before its junction with the Littlebourne Road at point 618670, 157931, Organ Lane would have had to skirt around the north east side of the likely location of the Manor of Moat and the adjacent ‘Fishpool’. The lane was believed to have been stopped up between 1504 and 1509 by Thomas Turberville, who dwelt at the Manor of Moat: this action was apparently facilitated by Turberville’s friendship with Sir Richard Empson and Edmund Dudley, who were councillors to Henry VII at this time (Woodruff, ibid, pp. 3-4). (1,2)

Route on GIS is indicative. Further research would be needed to refine it.

<1> Tracey Dessoy, 2017-2022, Verbal communication from local researcher (Tracey Dessoy) (Verbal communication). SKE32144.

<2> C. E. Woodruff, 1895, A History of the Town and Port of Fordwich (Bibliographic reference). SKE55201.

Sources and further reading