Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A large mound in a wood called the 'Shoulder of Mutton Shaw' by Pilgrim's Way. Has been variously interpreted as a tumulus, castle and fort . The mound is situated in a prominent in ridge, it measures 24.5 m. in diameter with a maximum height of 2.2 m. There are faint traces of a ditch and a hollow in the centre - probable the remains of an old excavation. It is now thought that this is too small for a castle mound and from its general appearance and topographical position there would seem little doubt that it is a bowl barrow.

Monument Types

• BOWL BARROW (Bronze Age - 2350 BC to 701 BC)

Full description

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[TQ 72706523] Old Fort [NR] (1)
Castle [NR] Site of [NAT] (2)
Published as Castle (Site of) on authority of O.G.S. Crawford with reference to V.C.H. (3)
An isolated mount of unknown date. (4)
An earthen mound some 10' high and 30-35' in diameter at the base, in a wood called the 'Shoulder of Mutton Shaw', has been variously described as tumulus, castle, fort. A recent visit has not confirmed the section published in V.C.H. [Authy 4] there being no sign of a surrounding ditch or of the symmetrical depression there shown in the top. It appears to be a simple tump of earth and chalk. (5)
[TQ 72706525] By the side of the so-called Pilgrim's Way [Ancient Trackway] in Shoulder of Mutton Wood, on a prominent N-S ridge at a height of approx. 250' O.D. there is a large circular mound. It measures 24.5 m. in diameter with a maximum height (on the W. side)of 2.2 m., around the S.E.quadrant there are faint unsurveyable traces of a ditch. At the cente there is a large hollow, probably an old excavation crater and responsible for the slight spoil-heap on the N. edge of the mound. The feature is too small for a castle mound and from its general appearance and topographical position there would seem little doubt that it is a bowl barrow. Antiquity Model Survey made - position and detail amended. AO/59/328/6. (6)
No change. Survey of 23.6.59 correct. (7)
[TQ 72706525] Tumulus [NR] (8)
Additional bibliography. (9-11)

<1> O.S. 6" 1909 (OS Card Reference). SKE47817.

<2> O.S. 6" 1938-9 (OS Card Reference). SKE47829.

<3> Rev. O.N.B. 1939 p.44A. (OS Card Reference). SKE49227.

<4> V.C.H. Kent. Vol. 1. 1908. p.411. Sketch plan. (OS Card Reference). SKE50774.

<5> Arch. Cant. Vol.55, 1942, p.71. (R.F. Jessup.) (OS Card Reference). SKE37114.

<6> F1 CFW 23-JUN-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE42731.

<7> F2 CFW 21-DEC-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE43263.

<8> OS 1:10000 1975 (OS Card Reference). SKE48160.

<9> Arch Cant 99 1983 97-100 (RJ Cruse and AC Harrison) (OS Card Reference). SKE36360.

<10> Field report for monument TQ 76 NW 25 - June, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4093.

<11> Field report for monument TQ 76 NW 25 - December, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4094.

Sources and further reading