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Monument details

HER Number:MWX43665
Type of record:Monument
Name:Two circular cropmarks, Kingsdown

Summary

Two circular cropmarks visible in 1942 and 1978, located in Kingsdown. The N circle was seen in 1978 and the S in 1942. Similar features were visible in both years surrounding these circular features; however they were amorphous in shape and appeared to be geological, rather than archaeological. A field to the N, close to Walmer Castle contained similar features and was recorded on OS historic mapping as having been woodland; thus it is possible that these features represent removed trees. The features were not visible in 2003.

Grid Reference:TR 37743 49375
Map Sheet:TR34NE
Parish:WALMER, DOVER, KENT

Monument Types

  • RING DITCH (Later Prehistoric - 4000 BC to 42 AD)

Full description

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Two circular cropmarks visible on aerial photography taken in 1942 and 1978 [1 and 2], located in Kingsdown. These features were visible only once each, the N circle was seen in 1978 and the S in 1942. The N feature was 22m in diameter and the S had a diameter of 19m. Similar features were visible in both years surrounding these circular features; however they were amorphous in shape and appeared to be geological, rather than archaeological. A field to the N, close to Walmer Castle contained similar features and was recorded on OS historic mapping as having been woodland [3]; thus it is possible that these features represent removed trees. Though OS historic mapping dating from 1877, 1899, 1908 and 1938 [4, 5, 6] does not show the area as having been wooded. The features were not visible on Next Perspectives photography taken in 2003 [7].

Cropmarks were seen in all directions around these features.

A transcription of the features recorded from aerial photographs exists within a GIS layer held by this HER.


<3> Ordnance Survey, 1928-1947, Ordnance Survey 1:2500 4th edition 1928-1947, 1938/1:2500 (Map). Ske12644.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1858-73, Ordnance Survey 1:2500 1st Edition : 1872-1897, 1877/1:2500 (Map). SWX11831.

<5> Ordnance Survey, 1893-7, Ordnance Survey 1:2500 2nd edition : 1893-1898, 1899/1:2500 (Map). SWX11832.

<6> Ordnance Survey, 1905-10, Ordnance Survey 1:2500 3rd edition: 1901-1912, 1908/1:2500 (Map). SWX11833.

<7> Next Perspectives consortium via English Heritage, 2003, 2007, Next Perspective PGA georeferenced aerial photograph data, Next Perspectives PGA Tile Ref: TR3749 14-AUG-2003 (Graphic material). SWX15711.

Sources and further reading

Cross-ref. Source description
<3>Map: Ordnance Survey. 1928-1947. Ordnance Survey 1:2500 4th edition 1928-1947. 1938/1:2500.
<4>Map: Ordnance Survey. 1858-73. Ordnance Survey 1:2500 1st Edition : 1872-1897. 1:2500. 1877/1:2500.
<5>Map: Ordnance Survey. 1893-7. Ordnance Survey 1:2500 2nd edition : 1893-1898. 1:2500. 1899/1:2500.
<6>Map: Ordnance Survey. 1905-10. Ordnance Survey 1:2500 3rd edition: 1901-1912. 1:2500. 1908/1:2500.
<7>Graphic material: Next Perspectives consortium via English Heritage. 2003, 2007. Next Perspective PGA georeferenced aerial photograph data. Next Perspectives PGA Tile Ref: TR3749 14-AUG-2003.