Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

An 18th Century circular earthwork was located half a mile to the south east of Chilham. This earthwork has been ploughed-out and is now visible as a circular raised strip of chalk and flints. The site was excavated in 1938 when a ditch and associated bank were revealed. The material from these features indicated that the feature was not prehistoric in date rather it had been suggested to be the remains of a disused colt-breaking track. Documentary evidence has indicated that it was made in the late 18th century by the owner of the nearby Chilham Castle.

Monument Types

• EARTHWORK (Post Medieval - 1774 AD? (at some time) to 1850 AD? (at some time))

Full description

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[TR 07595305] Earthwork (NAT) (1) This feature has been ploughed-out and is seen as a circular raised strip of chalk and flints. (2) The circular earthwork, half a mile south east of Chilham, close to Julliberrie's grave (TQ 05 SE 5) was excavated in 1938. This "exposed a ditch with practically no silting, and a bank, composed of material thrown up from the ditch, that was obviously of no great age". H and W Arnold of Stone Stile Farm remembered that their father had spoken of the ring as a disused colt-breaking track. There is documentary evidence that it was made by Thomas Heron who owned Chilham Castle between 1774 and 1791. It was used by the OS as a trigstation in 1789. (3,4)

<1> OS 6" 1961 (OS Card Reference). SKE48369.

<2> F1 ASP 17-MAY-1963 (OS Card Reference). SKE42152.

<3> Arch Cant 13 1880 12 (W M Flinders Petrie) (OS Card Reference). SKE34682.

<4> Arch Cant 51 1939 214-5 (R F Jessup) (OS Card Reference). SKE35269.

<5> Field report for monument TR 05 SE 6 - May, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE5213.

Sources and further reading