Exploring Kent's Past

It should not be assumed that this site is publicly accessible and it may be on private property. Do not trespass.

Monument details

Summary

Scatter of deneholes within Joydens Wood, Dartford. Originally there may have been over 100 in this location but many have since collapsed.

Monument Types

• DENE HOLE (DENE HOLE, Unknown date)

Full description

If you do not understand anything on this page please contact us.

"Deneholes." "These deep subterranean excavations are to be found on either side of the Thames. They consist of a narrow well-like shaft sunk through the overlying Thanet sand, and thence into the underlying chalk, where a chamber, or series of chambers, is found. Their exact period and purpose is not known with certainty but evidence is available that these pits were already in existence in the 16 C. William Lambarde writing in 1570 describes some deneholes in the Dartford area. The siting of these excavations is often in long-established woodland and are to be found in association with ancient earthworks. In more recent times, many of these denholes have been stopped up with rubbish, to obviate the danger they presented to passers-by and animals. It has been estimated that around the Dartford area alone, some 200 of these pits existed - the greater number of which are now entirely stopped up. Excavations similar to deneholes, known as Chalkwells, were excavated in the 18 C. to provide chalk for 'marling' the surrounding fields. These wells seldom exceed 25 feet in depth and consist of three roughly hewn chambers." "A typical denehole consists of a vertical entrance shaft approximately 3 feet in diameter sunk through the upper loam or Thanet Sand until the underlying chalk is reached. The shaft then widens out into the chalk forming from it a large chamber, or alternatively a complexity of several chambers all being inter-connected. The height of the chambers varies between 16 to 24 feet and their width from 5 to 9 feet. The chalk platforms seen in some chambers are those left by the original excavators. It is interesting to note that the slope employed in forming the roof is one which gives a good factor of mechanical safety in chalk. Rough footholds or toe-grips have been diametrically cut at approximately 1 foot 6 inches apart to facilitate descent and these are continued down the shaft to the floor level. The total depth of the shaft varies between 30 to 80 feet. The sites chosen for these excavations were often the sides of a dry valley and they are sometimes found in direct association with old banks and ditches. Kent and Essex are the classical sites for these shafts.

<1> Dartford Mus Information accompanying exhibits from deneholes. (OS Card Reference). SKE39655.

<2> Trans Essex F C 4 1886 93-95 illus (T V Holmes) (OS Card Reference). SKE50648.

<3> Arch J 38 Pl 1 404 'Deneholes' (Spurrell) (OS Card Reference). SKE36624.

<4> Arch Cant 54 1941 11 (A H A Hogg) (OS Card Reference). SKE35280.

<5> Trans Essex FC 4 1886 101-3 Illus (Misc Notes on Deneholes TV Holmes) (OS Card Reference). SKE50652.

<6> F1 ASP 20-NOV-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE42210.

<7> F2 ASP 18-SEP-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE43132.

<8> OS 1:10000 1983 (OS Card Reference). SKE48169.

<9> Field report for monument TQ 57 SW 95 - November, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3201.

<10> Field report for monument TQ 57 SW 95 - September, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3202.

Sources and further reading