Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Earthwork remains of enclosed settlement with bailey to the west. Investigation of the site uncovered the remains of a lookout tower, destroyed in the mid 13th century, a windmill, an oven and a possible bloomery. Pottery dating from the early to mid 12th century was also found.

Monument Types

• ENCLOSED SETTLEMENT (ENCLOSED SETTLEMENT, Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD? to 1900 AD?)

Associated Finds

• SHERD (Medieval - 1100 AD to 1199 AD)

Full description

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[TQ 62766140] Earthwork (NR) (1) A near-rectangular earthwork, measuring 50m. overall, situated on almost level ground in cleared woodland. Poor condition; mutilated by pigs. It consists of a bank and ditch of feeble profile with a small mound at each corner except the S.W., (these mounds may be the result of double upcast from the ditch). A probable original entrance leads into a semi-circular enclosure on the W. side, in which there is a shallow depression, probably an old pond. 20m. from the NE corner of the work is a small earthen mound. Excavated by J.E.L. Caiger in 1964 and large quantity of pottery (cooking pots) found. This suggests a provisional date of early-mid 12th c. for the earthwork, which probably enclosed a hall-type building. Excavation to continue (a). Published 1/2500 revised. (2) The excavation of a fortified Md. dwelling near Meopham has continued since 1964. The site covers approximately 1 1/2 acres and consists of a square enclosure with an oval bailey on the W. side. (3) Details of walling etc. exposed in the 1964-66 excavations were pointed out by Mr. Caiger and the published 1/2500 survey revised. Excavations are continuing and a full report will appear in Arch. Cant. (b) (4) TQ 628614. Excavations between 1964 and 1966 revealed a possible cattle pond; a small mound which was the remains of a look out tower destroyed by fire in the mid 13th century; the footings of a windmill, an oven and much iron ore perhaps indicating a bloomery. A causeway of slightly later date was also found. (5,6)

<1> OS 6" 1936 (OS Card Reference). SKE48337.

<2> Letter (JEL Caiger 12.11.64) (OS Card Reference). SKE46046.

<3> F1 FGA 16-NOV-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE42929.

<4> KAR 4 1966 16-17 (JEL Caiger) (OS Card Reference). SKE45718.

<5> Oral: JEL Caiger Bexleyheath Kent (OS Card Reference). SKE48032.

<6> F2 ASP 07-SEP-66 (OS Card Reference). SKE43087.

<7> Med Arch 9 1965 202 (D Wilson & G Hurst) (OS Card Reference). SKE46771.

<8> Med Arch 11 1967 298 (D Wilson & G Hurst) (OS Card Reference). SKE46725.

<9> Field report for monument TQ 66 SW 10 - November, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3581.

<10> Field report for monument TQ 66 SW 10 - September, 1966 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3582.

Sources and further reading