Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade II listed building. Main construction periods 1767 to 1799.

Monument Types

• SITE (Post Medieval - 1767 AD to 1799 AD)

Full description

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The following text is from the original listed building designation:
CONVENT ROAD 1. 5283 (North Side) BROADSTAIRS Hackemdown Tower TR 37 SE 6/81 II GV
2. In 1768, Lord Holland opened a barrow on his estate and found a quantity of human bones. It was believed that these resulted from a battle between the Danes and the Saxons circa 350. Lord Holland decided to build a monument "in the stile of very remote antiquity". The clock was added later. Originally the base of the tower had 4 ogee arches on Doric columns but these have now been removed. Late C18. A circular flint tower crenellated with yellow brick coping and yellow brick bands. Flint base. 4 quatrefoil ornaments, 2 blank panels and 1 stone panel with a Latin inscription. Arched doorcase. The tower is set within a large low circular wall of brick and flint with crenellated parapet. The inscription reads: "D.M. Danorum & Saxonum hic occisorum Dum de solo britannico (Milites nihil a se alienum Putant) Britannis Perfide et crudeliter olim expulsis, Inter se domicaverunt HEN: de HOLLAND Posuit Qui Duces qualis hujus Praelii Exitus Nulla Notat Historia Annum circiter DCCCL evenit Pugna Et Pugnam hanc evenisse Fidem faciunt Ossa quamplurima Quae sub hoc & altero Tumulo huic vicino Sunt sepulta" which translated is: "To the shades of the departed and in memory of the Danes and Saxons who were killed here whilst fighting for the possession of Britain (soldiers think everything their own), the Britons already having been perfidiously and cruelly expelled, this was put up by Henry Holland. History does not record the names of the leaders or the result of the action. It happened about the year 850 and that it happened here seems true from the quantity of bones buried in this and the nearby tumulus."
All listed buildings in Port Regis School grounds form a group.
Listing NGR: TR3877069577

English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

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

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1928-1947, Ordnance Survey 1:2500 4th edition 1928-1947, 1938/1:2500 (Map). Ske12644.

<3> Google Earth, EARTH.GOOGLE.COM 02-MAY-2007 ACCESSED 18-JAN-2011 (Graphic material). SWX15704.

Sources and further reading

Related records