Charing New Circular Walks from the North Downs Way
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LostLost Laandndsscacapes pes HERITAGEL TRAILS A lost heathland,a woodland that’s been moved and a special map belonging to an anonymous contributor.These are just some of the highlights on the Lost Landscapes Heritage Trails in this booklet - two Charing new circular walks from the North Downs Way. The main trail explores the area to the south-west of Charing village, where vast modern sand pits that give you a glimpse back in time contrast with ancient woodlands and buildings,including a ruin that may or may not be a chapel.The secondary trail takes you south-east of the village, past buildings of many ages,then up onto the downs, culminating with the superb views near Charing windmill (right). The main text of the booklet consists of detailed directions and information on points of interest for the main trail. The secondary trail has no detailed directions but the route is shown on a map and there are notes to help you and information on points of interest.The back pages of the booklet cover other local heritage themes. The Lost Landscapes project With grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund (through the Local Heritage Initiative) and the Rail Link Countryside Initiative, the Lost Landscapes project,organised by the North Downs Way National Trail,has been taking place in six communities along the North Downs. People in these communities have been looking into the heritage and history of their area and discovering what it is that makes their parishes special.Their contributions are the backbone of this series of trail booklets. The Charing Heritage Trails have been carefully designed to take in the best heritage features of the area. As you walk you will find that the history has been brought to life by the contributions of local people. Enjoy your journey back in time! About the trails... The map to the left shows the trail rou t e s , and the booklet contains detailed written directions in num b e r ed steps, but you may find it useful to take an Ordnance Survey map for this area - Explorer no.148 or Landranger no.18 8 . Getting to Charing By train - Charing station is on the As h fo r d-Maidstone-London line between As h fo r d Domestic and Lenham. For train times telephone 08457 484950.The main trail passes close to the station - walk away from the station and reach a main road,turn left down Hither Field and pick up the trail at step 2. By car - Leave the M20 at junction 9 and fol l o w signs for the A2 0 , heading wes t . After about 5 miles you will come into Charing.At a cros s r oads with a pedestrian cros s i n g , turn right onto the High Stree t , signposted village centre. Tak e the second right into Market Square - park here. By bus - The 510 Maidstone to As h fo r d bus passes through Charing.Th e r e is a bus stop in School Road. Be safe,be prep a re d Please take care when walking on roads (use pavement if available or keep to the right) and crossing roa d s . Poi n t s wh e r e caution should be exer cised are highlighted on the map and in the text.Alw a ys wear suitable clothing and foo t we a r .Al l o w plenty of time for your walk - about an hour for ever y 2 miles (more for elderly or inexperienced wa l ke r s ) .A lw a ys keep to the countryside code (see back of booklet). KEY TO MAP Main route Steep climb Secondary route Bench A Point of interest in text - main route Steps a Point of interest in text - secondary route Viewpoint CAUTION at this point BEFORE YOU STAR T:. From start to We would like to acknowledge the point A an o n ymous loan of an original tithe map of Charing from 1840. You will find 1.S t a r t in the car refe r ences to information we gleaned park in Market Place, fr om this map,such as the traditional next to the chu r ch . names of fields,th r oughout the trail.For Walk along the lane mo r e information about this and other out of the car park, tithe maps , see page 15.Our thanks also aw ay from the to Parish Councillor Allan Dixon for chu r ch . When you passing the map on to us. rea c h the main roa d th r ough the village, Thanks to local resident John McIntyre turn left and wal k who suggested the main rou t e . dow n h i l l . Pass a turn- ing on your left,kee p The Ar ch b i s h o p ’ s Pal a c e Charing village as shown st r aight on.When you On the north side of the churchy a r d on the 1840 tithe map rea c h the main roa d th e r e stands a fou r teenth century (A20) use the pedes- building that now serves as a barn. In fact it is the tr ian crossing to cross over and go down the road direc t l y su r viving east side of the courty a r d and Great Hall of opposite (Station Road).Tak e the next right (Hither Field). the former manor house of the Ar chbishops of Ca n t e r b u r y.It was prob a b l y built by John Statford , 2. Tak e the second right off Hither Field,to war ds the village Ar chbishop from 1333-1348 and whose favou r i t e su r ge r y.You will see a stile on the left and a tarmac path residence is said to have been Charing.For more into a new housing estate.Bear left on a grassy path and in fo r m a t i o n , see the ‘Historic Charing’ panel in the walk between a fence and the hedges of garde n s . sq u a r e or ask in the library. 3 POINT A - PURLANDS AR E A From point A to point B are a , which is part of a geological zone known as the From point B to point C Gr eensand Belt. Purlands and Piquets lost 3. The path does a 90 degree turn then goes under a 9. Fol l o w the edge of the quarry and woodland.At a rai l w ay brid g e.Fol l o w the tree line on your right until you The geology of the Greensand Belt (as with most of ma r k ed junction,turn rig h t . Fol l o w the path along the side to 'progress' find a stile. Kent) was laid down as sediments at the bottom of a of a second large quarry. pr ehistoric sea,in the Cretaceous Per i o d , (135 to 65 The 1840 tithe map,leant to us by our mys t e r y 4 .C ross the stile then a small brid g e,and walk across a millions years ago) . As sea levels varied,so did the 10 . You will see a large modern barn ahead.Keep strai g h t co n t r i b u t o r ,sh o ws that the land where the houses field (traditional name,Lo wer Meadow) towar ds a house. type of deposits reaching the sea floor,and so layer s ahead past the barn and walk through a far m s t e a d .C o m e on your left now stand was then part of a pasture quite differ ent in character for m e d . Much later,du r i n g to a roa d . called Hither Purlands.It is from this traditional name 5. As you approa c h the house,go through a field gate onto the Alpine phase of mountain building in Europe (25 that the road Hither Field gets it name.T wo more a surfaced driv e way .Walk past the house then turn left million years ago) these layers of rock wer e pushed POINT C - TILE LODGE FAR M pa s t u r es to the south,called Middle Purlands and and go through a field gate.Walk diagonally across a fie l d up into a dome or 'anticline'.This dome then erod e d Fa r ther Purlands are also now houses and garde n s , (t r aditional name,Upper Meadow) towar ds a stile. ba c k , exposing layers as parallel belts. the oldest of which is called 'Purlands'. An earthy story 6 .C ross the stile then go straight ahead,th r ough some The layers found in this part of the Greensand Belt As you ' v e already rea d , sand quarrying is a local Another local resident did some on-line res e a r ch of tr ees and over a second stile.Turn rig h t , then left at the include a sticky grey clay known as Gault Clay,and a old maps and sent us what they fou n d . The Ordn a n c e in d u s t r y that goes back a long way in this area . en d , between two fen c e s .Look for a third stile on the rig h t , la yer with bands of hard Ragstone known as the Another old rural industry,but one that no longer Su r vey map from 1881 shows a dramatic change in cr oss it,and walk through a belt of conifer s.