Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A number of caves are located in chalk pits at Cheesemans Farm and Alland Grange. Some of the 14 caves show evidence of brick revettments, most likely the remains of shelters used in the first World War. The original purpose of these features is uncertain; originally thought to be deneholes this appears to be an inaccurate assessment of their character. The caves more likely were constructed as tunnels, as a later adaptation to the quarry. A local tradition reportedly connects them with smuggling, although information to further corroborate these stories is unavailable. Similar caves have been identified in disused chalk-pits at Woodchurch to the north (TR 36 NW 341) , and Mount pleasant to the south (TR 36 NW 337). Unfortunately these offer little clue as to their purpose as they are in very poor condition. Similar caves have also been identified at Margate and these are now though to be malt kilns (see TR 37 SE 39).

Monument Types

• CAVE (Post Medieval to Modern - 1540 AD to 1918 AD?)
• AIR RAID SHELTER (Modern - 1914 AD to 1918 AD)
• COW HOUSE (Modern to Unknown - 1963 AD)

Full description

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[TR 32106636] Caves [NR] [TR 32426697] Caves [NR] (1) Probably the last remnants of deneholes. (2) In the vicinity of Cheesemans Farm and Alland Grange are two disused chalk pits which together contain some 14 artificial caves. These area bout 3.0m in height and breadth and lead horizontally off the quarry floor into the chalk. Most of them are collapsed or partially blocked but one is traceable for about 60.0 m; some were brick revetted in the1914-18 war for use as shelters, and those at Cheesemans Farm are now used as cowsheds. Their original purpose is obscure. Their regular appearance suggests they were constructed as tunnels, and their position leading off the quarry floor indicates and an adaption of the quarry rather than a part of it. They are certainly not deneholes but information on them, apart from a local tradition connecting them with smuggling, is lacking. However, they do not appear to be of any great age. Two other disused chalk-pits nearby, at TR 31076582 and TR 32926801 have similar caves but they are in very poor conditon. (3) [Similar caves at Margate (see TR 37 SE 39) are now though to be malt kilns]. (4) additional references (5-6)

<1> OS 25" (OS Card Reference). SKE48250.

<2> Rev. O.N.B. 1939 (OS Card Reference). SKE49224.

<3> F1 CFW 01-OCT-63 (OS Card Reference). SKE42382.

<4> Recorder 2 CJH 06-JUL-1987 (OS Card Reference). SKE49104.

<5> Field report for monument TR 36 NW 15 - October, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE6220.

<6> Not applicable, SMR Kent uncatalogued index entry, A Runacre Chalk Passages at Alland Grange (KURG Research Report 1995 p.1) (Miscellaneous Material). SKE6440.

Sources and further reading