Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Probable Medieval rectangular enclosure situated in Denge Woods, one mile east of East Stour Farm. Field investigations in 1964 found it to be near rectangular on plan, comprising a strong bank and outer ditch of unweathered profile. The interior was subdivided into three enclosures with probable original entrances in the northwest, northeast and southeast sides. An annexe at the northeast corner is probably contemporary.

Monument Types

• ENCLOSURE (EARTHWORK, Medieval to Modern - 1066 AD (between) to 2050 AD (between))

Full description

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Payne notes an oblong earthwork called "Great Court Town", consisting of a bank and outside ditch enclosing about nine acres, at Penny Pot or Denge Woods, Waltham, a mile east of East Stour Farm [TR 075521]. An outer defence on the north side is called "Little Court Town". Jessup claims that this is a rectangular earthwork with outside ditch, about 200 yards by 130 yards, about 0.5 miles south-west of Mystole House [TR 095537] and between 300 and 400 yards inside the north boundary of the wood. The eastern side is aligned on a north-south bridle path shown on a map of 1769 and the earthwork is divided unequally by an east-west trackway. The earthwork may be a medieval cattle pen. [The siting evidence conflicts and a probable area for Payne's earthwork is TR 088519 whereas Jessup's siting leads to TR 088532 or TR 091523]. (1-3)

This earthwork is situated in a non-defensive position on a gentle slope at TR 09105285. The subsoil is chalk capped by clay with flints and would have supported dense woodland in it's natural state and is still heavily wooded. It is near rectangular on plan and comprises a strong bank and outer ditch of unweathered profile (see section). The interior is subdivided into three enclosures and there are three probably original entrances in the NW, NE and SE sides. There is an annexe at the NE corner which is probably contemporary. The general appearance and unweathered profile of the work indicate a Medieval date and the name of the wood in which it falls - Denge Wood - suggests that it may have been connected with pannage. Surveyed at 1:2500. (4)

Field report reference [5].

<01> Archaeol Cantiana 25, 1902, lxv (G Payne) (OS Card Reference). SKE37269.

<02> Archaeol Cantiana 56, 1943, 68-9 (RF Jessup) (OS Card Reference). SKE37270.

<03> Map of Kent, 1769 (Andrews, Dury and Herbert) (OS Card Reference). SKE46519.

<04> F1 AC 03-APR-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE41746.

<05> Field report for monument TR 05 SE 1 - April, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE5207.

Sources and further reading