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 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--London line between As h fo r d Domestic and . 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. ) 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. Hythe Beds.You are now standing on a layer called this area - the railwa y had arri ve d , and where the goes on here,is tile making.You may have noticed that the Fol k estone Beds (so called because they wer e the farm house opposite is called Tile Lodge Farm.In houses to your left now stand wer e railwa y sidings 7.E m e r g e onto a roa d ,c r oss it and cross a stile.Go strai g h t first classified where they meet the sea at Fol ke s t o n e ) and a gas wor k s . It is hard to imagine the impact the fact the kilns used for firing the tiles wer e a short ahead across a strip of grass and over a second stile,on t o - a layer made up of sand.Looking down into the pit distance east along this road - they are shown on a ra i lw a y must have had on villages all along its rou t e . another roa d . CAUT I O N : This is a quarry road used by you are quite literally looking back in time,at layers of Be fo r e its arrival they wer e mostly ver y agricultural ma p of 1736 held at the Centre for Kentish Studies heavy lorrie s . sand laid down millions of years ago.As you will in County Hall,Ma i d s t o n e . co m m unities that had prob a b l y changed little in the di s c o ver later in this walk,the presence of this sand last hundred yea r s . The railwa y brought the modern, 8 .C ross the road and a stile into a field (Horse Pas t u re ) . has shaped the local landscape for a long time. The first edition Ordnance Survey map,dr a wn 130 industrial age hurtling through these rural landscape s , Walk diagonally across the field to a stile in the corner. and things would never be the same again. years later,indicates a change of industry - the site Cr oss the stile and a small brid g e,bear right and walk with was a brickwor k s , and quite a large one.The raw a woodland on your right and a large sand quarry on your materials necessary wer e right at hand - a fea t u r e of The landscape of this part of the parish has rec e n t l y le f t . un d e r g one another change,with the building of a the geology here is a large area of a rock called ne w housing estate over fields with evoc a t i v e Br i c ke a rt h , which overlies the Fol k estone Beds,hav i n g traditional names like Piquets and Horse Lees. POINT B - SPRING WOOD AND SAND been deposited in a later geological period.The QUA R R I E S pr esence of this material had clearly been rec o g n i s e d for some time,as it is reflected in the names of two Digging deep into the past fields just to the south of here - Brickea r th Field and Little Brickea r th Field. The woodland on your right is Spring Woo d , one of tw o ancient woodlands you will see on this trail. From point C to point D Spring Wood is shown on the 1840 tithe map and 11 . Turn left and fol l o w the road into Charing Heath until Farther purlands appears to have changed little since then.Be c a u s e Sandy cliffs at The Bayle, Folkestone Spring Wood is an ancient woodland we know that it you come to a left turn called Wind Hill Lane,and cross a has existed since at least 1600,and possibly muc h stile directly opposite.You will see a hedge with two stiles in lo n g e r .See the section entitled 'Special Woodlands' on it - take the right hand one and diagonally cross the fie l d Middle purlands The second way this quarry has revealed the past to (Sand Field),to war ds some farm buildings. page 14 for more infor m a t i o n . us , is in the amazing arch a e o l o g y that has been un c o ver ed during excava t i o n s . These have included a In contrast,the landscape to your left has been 12 .R e a c h a narrow lane and turn left,fol l o wing it until it late Neolithic axeh e a d , fragments of Bronze Age turns into a rough track , past a barn. Hither purlands ut t e r l y transformed by this vast sand quarry.Th e po t t e r y,and a late Iron Ag e / e a r l y Roman farmstead, 1840 map shows pastures and arable fields here with field ditches and enclosures ,c re m a t i o n s , POINT D - BURLEIGH 'CHAPEL' RUI N (including one called Sand Field) which are now long st r u c t u r es that may have been granaries,a possible gone in the wake of the new topograph y created by dr ove roa d , a bronze brooch and a lot of pottery. When is a chapel not a chapel? ex c a vation on a massive scale.This pit is an example Ar chaeologists also found what they described as a of the impact of modern industry on a landscape ,bu t 'large irregular fea t u r e' consisting of channels of it also reveals the past,in more ways than one. If you look to your right,ac r oss the field,tow a r ds the The Purlands area as shown on the 1840 tithe map va r ying widths to a depth of 2 metres . This is thought ra i lw a y,you will see a small over g r own ruin (please with field names and the approximate alignment of to be a mediaeval sand quarry,pointing to a long no t e ,the ruin is on private land - keep to the path). the modern road Hither Field added. Fi r s t l y,it quite literally reveals how this landscape hi s t o r y of sand extraction at this site. for m e d . The deep pit exposes the geology of this

4 5 This insignificant looking flint structure has been the From point D to point E Da r rel family,who owned large tracts of this part of who are buying up land in this area to open it for subject of a long historical debate, which hinges on Ken t . This was part of a nation-wide trend in the 18th public access.Th e y recognise the importance of the question of what its function was. 13 . Fol l o w a path across the field (Preb b l e s ) .C r oss a brid g e and 19th centuries,with commons being enclosed all heathland heritage in this area and hope to bring and stile then fol l o w the path across the corner of a fie l d over the country,sometimes on the basis of dubious heathland back to the area by rec r eating this habitat The debate started in 1900,with a book called 'A to war ds another stile. ownership claims and in some cases with on land not far from the original heath. Saunter Th r ough Ken t ' , written by Charles Igglesden. commoners being forc i b l y rem o ved . Some of the He claimed that this building,being close to the 14 .C r oss the stile and walk straight ahead towar ds a names given to these ex-common fields suggest they From point E to point F me d i a e val Burleigh Manor,was the ruin of Burleigh corner fence post with a yel l o w footpath marker .Fol l o w this wer e still heath-like in character - Heath Field,Fu r z e Ch ap e l , founded in the 13th century by John de fence line,keeping it on your rig h t . You will approa c h a fie l d Field (furze being another wor d for gor s e ) ;o t h e r s 16 . When you rea c h Bu r l e i g h .H o wever ,the chapel wasn't mentioned by gate ahead,but befor e you rea c h it,look to your left for a reflect a boggier situation - Broo k , Rough Broo k , the road cross the stile other authors.Ha s t e d , Kent's most famous historian, yel l o w footpath marker on a post.Walk across to the post Upper Broo k , Beeching Brook (Brook being derived and turn left.(Tu r n rec o r ds that John de Burleigh founded a chapel in then fol l o w the arrow left,along a fence line,to war ds a stile. fr om the Old English for marsh). right if you want to Charing church , but doesn't mention one at Burleigh. ma k e a diversion to 15 .C r oss this stile into another fie l d . Walk across this fie l d A much smaller area of common land did still rem a i n the chu r c h (pictured The historical picture seems confused,and the di a g onally left to the far corner.In the corner you will find a in 1840 - the triangle of land shown on the map.Bu t right) but return to this ar chaeological evidence doesn't provide any definite st i l e .Cr oss it,look to the right and see another stile,cro s s it wouldn't last long.The 1876 Ordnance Survey map sp o t . ) . Fol l o w this roa d an s wers either.We know that the walls are made of and go straight across a field towar ds the chu r c h and a sh o ws this land too enclosed into fields.The same until you come to a flint and chalk,that the building has an east-west field gate. thing also happened on the Lenham side of the parish junction and turn left. alignment and that it was app a re n t l y all one space bo u n d a r y. in s i d e ,with no internal walls.The problem is that POINT E - THE LOST HEATH L A N D th e r e are no architectural fea t u r es remaining that can be used to date the building. Lost land of heather 17 . Pass For g e House and take a foo t p a t h In the Kent sites and monuments rec o r d - a database Earlier in this trail, you skirted the edge of a small off to the rig h t , over a stile.Walk across the of the county's archaeological sites - it says that settlement called Charing Heath,and you may have Former heathland field (For g e Field) towar ds a second stile. "t h e r e seems to be no real evidence for calling this noticed that to the west of here is another called Cr oss the stile,th r ough a hedger ow,th e n building a chape l " . What it doesn't say is what it was.It Lenham Heath.But where is the heath that gave di a g onally cross this large field towar ds a suggests that it could have been "one of the demesne these places their names? th i r d stile. bu i l d i n g s " , which could mean almost any small building that might have formed part of a mediaeval estate. In fact you ' v e just walked across part of it.The heath 18 .C r oss the stile,then go through a small is now no more, long since conver ted into pastures timber gate to the left,onto a brid l e way . For one final clue in the mys t e r y,we can return once and arable fields.We know where the heath used to again to the 1840 tithe map.It shows two small be from old maps . A map of 1801 shows a large area POINT F - TR A N S L O C ATE D buildings in the location of the ruin,which it ref ers to of heathland,st r a d dling the parish boundary with WOO D L A N D as Burleigh Cottages.No mention of a chape l . Le n h a m ,s t r etching east to Burleigh and south to Br ockton (see map opposite).This would have been Woodland rescue You may be also wondering what has happened to common land,pre s u m a b l y with grazing rights for Translocated woodland Burleigh Manor,the mediaeval manor house that those who did not own their own land,and perhaps You can prob a b l y hear from the traffic Igglesden rec o rd e d .N o ,you didn't miss it,an d ,n o , other rights such as firewood gathering.It would have noise that you are now getting quite Igglesden didn't imagine the whole thing.The late 15th pro b a b l y been a patchwork of heather,gor s e ,bro o m near the M20.When the motorway Woodland lost to rail link ce n t u r y house was moved wholesale to a location in and scattered birch , all of which thrive on the sandy Map showing former heathland and was built in the early 1980s,the Eg e r ton in 1975. soils of the Fol k estone Beds,pe r h a ps with boggy translocated woodland woodland you can see ahead of you , ar eas on the clays of the Sandgate Beds. Hurst Woo d , was in the way and quite The common would have been open - In the past,on the sandy soils of the Greensand Belt, a chunk was lost from its southern end. un-enclosed by hedges or fences - for heathland vegetation was prob a b l y a common site people and livestock to roam on free l y. wh e r ever there was rough grazing of the land.This is Come the late 1990s Hurst Wood was about to reflected by the string of 'heath' place names,not just su f f er another blow,as the Channel Tunnel Rail Link By 1840,the picture had changed in this area but right across Ken t .N o w,in most of ploughed through in the same corridor as the M20. so m ew h a t . The tithe map shows that these villages and hamlets, th e r e is nothing to the part of the heath you have just indicate a heathland ever existed there except the Another few acres wer e shaved off the woo d l a n d , wa l k ed across was no longer heathland place name.Kent now has only 90 hectares (about but this time,instead of being lost for ever ,the nor common land.It had been enclosed 220 acres) of heathland in the whole county. woodland was transplanted.Look over the fence on and turned into pastures and arable your right and you should be able to see where it fi e l d s , and was now in the hands of just Ho wever ,all is not lost.The Heaths Countrys i d e ended up,planted in rows in what used to be a a few landown e r s , including the Co r ridor are a community based conservation grou p pa s t u r e called Hurst Meadow (see map) .

The ruin at Burleigh 7 6 Hurst Wood is an ancient woodland and ancient ma k e it valuable for wildlife.It has been designated a had occurred..." As the 20th century prog re s s e d ,t h e look out of their boxes onto two sides of a woodlands cannot be replaced once lost.So this Site of Nature Conservation interest by the Ken t pit was extended substantially,to the south (this part qu a d r a n g l e ...By August the racehorses have been in ef fo r t at woodland rescue was certa i n l y a good thing. Wi l d l i f e Tru s t . Dormice have been rec o r ded here,as of the pit was lost in the construction of the Channel training for just a few wee k s . Him and the 'lads' ride Whether it will rea l l y work remains to be seen. has a rare fungus known at only one other site in the Tunnel Rail Link) and to the north (you will see this the horses round in a circle in front of the stables Re-locating a woodland is not just a question of whole of Britain.For more infor m a t i o n , see the la r g e ,deep quarry area on your left when you be fo r e morning exerc i s e ...At this time of year they mo ving the trees - the ancient woodland soil,with it section on 'Special Woodlands' on page 14. co n t i n ue your walk,and a breeze block works that is ride on the roa d , just walking and trotting on the specialised fungi and seed bank of native plants,is just still active) . la n e s . When the horses are fitter,after a few wee k s , as important as the trees themselves . But in its new The wide strip of grassland on your left is quite an th e y'll ride onto the 'gallops' for a canter and 'a look ho m e ,right next to the rest of Hurst Woo d ,t h e r e is old fea t u r e - it is shown of the 1840 tithe map,an d This long-established quarry,as well as being a piece at the fen c e s ' . a chance that in 100 years it will be ver y hard to tell ma y have existed for much longer.Its precise purpose of history in its own right,has produced some that this bit of woodland was moved at all. is not known ,h o wever . excellent archaeological finds,including 8,000 year old "The mother takes the girl and her brother for walks Mesolithic flint tools,a 5,000 year old Neolithic up the track to the gallops.Past the big house.Th e y From point F to point G From point G to point H polished stone axe,Ir on Age cremation burials and pa d dle in the stream half way along.One day they Romano-British pottery. built a dam and make an area deep enough for them 19 . Fol l o w the brid l e way and come to a road (Hurst Lane). 20 . Continue along this roa d , pass a turning on your rig h t to swim in..." Turn right and fol l o w the road between two areas of (H u n g er Hatch Lane) and stop. And the heritage of Newlands doesn't stop there. wo o d l a n d , with a wide strip of grass on your left. Tuc k ed awa y among the buildings of Newlands Stud, From point H to point I POINT H - NEWLANDS AR E A the farmstead you can see ahead of you , is a Norman POINT G - HURST WOO D ch ap e l . It dates from the 12th century,built as part of 21 . Continue along this road (CAUT I O N : heavy lorrie s ) , Plenty of old stuff at Newlands Ne wlands Manor,rec o r ded in the late 13th century with the bree z e block works and sand pit on your left,un t i l Woodlands - the older the as belonging to Sir John de Newland and later sold to you rea c h a cros s ro a d s . You are now coming into an area known as the Brockhull family,then to the Darrells in 1410. better New l a n d s . But don't be misled by the name - this POINT I - KING'S SAND PIT place has a heritage going back thousands of yea r s . In his book The Lost Churches and Chapels of Ken t , You are now walking between two parts of Hurst Alex Vincent writes: A childhood in the shadow Woo d . Ancient woodlands like this often give a St a r t by looking over the fence into the conifer woodland on your left.You will notice how uneven "The chapel...was built in the late Norman period of industry the ground is under the tree s . In fact you are looking with rubble stone and some Caen stone dres s i n g s . . . I t at the earliest confirmed sand workings in the area . has a north doorway and two pilaster buttresses in As you walked up Newlands Road,you may have the south wall.Th e r e are carvings on the south side. noticed that there are disused sand pits on both sides Local residents Sheila and Ton y Vi n s o n , who are The chapel is situated in the grounds of a Medieva l of the roa d . The one on the right used to be known members of the Heaths Countryside Corri d o r ti m b e r -framed house.It came out of use a few as King's Pit.Local resident Alison McNaught re- gro u p ,did some res e a r ch on Newl a n d s .T h e y went to centuries ago and is now in use as a store roo m . " co r ded her memories of living so close to these pits: the Centre for Kentish Studies,lo o k ed at old maps for evidence of early sand pits,and made notes on The chapel cannot be seen from the roa d , so please "The start of the winter of 1965 and we move to a what they saw. respect the privacy of the residents as you pass small bungalow at the edge of King's Sandpit.I am six, Ne wlands Stud. my brother five, my sister is ten.The rumble of The first map they looked at was...you guessed it,th e lo rr i e s , empty after their drop - o f f s , punctuates our 1840 tithe map.Th e y found no actual pits,but they Fi n a l l y,we have an unusual and evoc a t i v e account da ys into fifteen minute interva l s . Their tail gates crash Marsh marigold noted a house with an interesting name: contributed by local resident Alison McNaught who li k e thunder as their drivers hit the pot holes in our li v ed at Newlands Stud as a child in the 1960s. la n e . glimpse of landscapes that have changed ver y little for "Sand Pit House,just north of Newlands would Ho wever ,it's written not from her point of view but ce n t u r i e s . The coppice woodland of ash and hazel in indicate the presence of sand extraction." fr om that of the stable dog Oscar: Hurst Wood has been here for at least 400 years and pro b a b l y much longer,and apa r t from now being Th e y also found that the area you are now looking at "Opposite the dung heap is the barn, built of old red rather over g r own the woodland prob a b l y looks was a pasture called 'Sand Banks'. br i c k s . At the back of the barn is the 'lads' roo m much as it did to mediaeval woodsmen cutting the wh e r e they make coffee and eat their sandwiches. coppice for fencing and a multitude of other uses.A By the time the 1870 Ordnance Survey map was This is my favourite place.Once I found four ham st r eam runs through the centre of the woo d l a n d , pu b l i s h e d , Sand Banks had become "a sandpit with sandwiches and a Mars bar in it.No such luck today lined by damp-loving trees and plants such as alder access from Newlands Road".This was the beginnings th o u g h , still it's wor th a look and a snuffle for crumbs. and marsh marigol d . This kind of wet woo d l a n d of the excavations you can now see as steep banks The lad's room smells interesting of leather,ho r s e s would prob a b l y have once dominated the landscape and pits. and condensed milk.... on the local clay soils. This photograph of a lorry being loaded with sand The Vinsons noted that the 1907 Ordnance Survey "The barn is built from bricks and beams whilst the was taken at a sand pit in nearby Lenham Heath in When it comes to woo d l a n d , the older the better, ma p "shows that further development of the sand pit stables are built of Kentish Rag stone.The racehorses and the long-established habitats of Hurst Woo d the 1970s. (R. Morgan)

8 9 (then much smaller),th r ough the heath itself then SE C O N D A R Y ROU T E into Lenham parish and on to Maidstone.To the east it ran for just a short distance to 'Coppins Corner' The route is shown in orange on the map at the wh e r e it met another old rou t e ,the Biddenden and fr ont of this booklet.Th e r e are no detailed written Boundgate Tur n p i k e.This turnpike highway linked key di re c t i o n s . Wealden villages (Bidde n d e n ,P l u c k l e y,Sm a r den) to Charing and the Faver s h a m - A s h fo r d road (now the Be l o w is information on the main points of interes t A2 5 1 ) . and notes on the route at points where it may not be clear where to go.These points correspond to On a map of 1801,an alternative route makes an lo wer case letters on the map. app e a r a n c e .It corresponds ver y closely to the mod- A piece of ironstone - the ‘rusty rock’ ern A20 between Charing and Lenham and was Point a - Note on the route described in Alison’s account. ca l l e d ,l o g i c a l l y enough,'the new road from Ma i d s t o n e ' . The coming of the new road was just the St a r t by walking into the churchy a r d and down the "W e find out that no vegetables or flowers grow in first of a series of changes to this area brought by right hand side of the church . Head for a no cycling our new garden because a million rabbits live in the tr a n s p o r t rou t e s . It was fol l o wed by the railwa y in the sign to find the foo t p a t h . sa n d . The morello cherry trees that edge our plot 19th century,then the M20 in the 20th,and most rec e n t l y the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. attract plagues of wasps in the summer,but hundreds Point b - The Moat Traditional management of coppice woodland at the Alderbed Meadow (KSCP) of sand martens swoop and nest in the cliffs next to Fr om point J to start A large dwelling called 'The Moat House' used to us . My Grandpa likes the sand marte n s . stand in this area , among ornamental grou n d s .P a r t of 23 . Fol l o w the road until you come to a left hand the Mediaeval moat that gave it its name still exists ar ea escaped the ravages of intensive farming.The first factor was the building of the houses and creation of "This sand is not the same as seaside sand.No be n d , and a footpath off to the left.Tak e this path,an d (the elongated water fea t u r e on the map) .L u c y cr oss a stile near a strea m , then cross the strea m Simmons of the Charing Gardeners' Society sent us the playing fields you have just walked throu g h , in the st r etches of flat beach or silver y dunes.This sand is 1960s and '70s. or a n g e .It scars the ground as the diggers quarry over a metal bridge and turn right. an account written by a now deceased member about her childhood memories of the Garde n e r s ' de e p e r .Th e r e is a sandpit to the side of our house "All these changes left Wood Brook field and Broo k and another across the roa d . Soon we don't notice 24 . Fol l o w a green lane,be t w een two hedges,th e n Society's An n ual Exhibition and Sports in the 1920s: cr oss another metal bridge.Reach a stile then walk Wood (the traditional names for what is now the the noise of the lorri e s . The quarries become our Alderbed Meadow) owned by Granville Wh e l e r , pl ay g r ound in the evenings and at wee ke n d s . straight ahead across a field. "The Gardeners' Summer Fete was held in the Moat House grou n d s . The show itself was in a marqu e e isolated from Palace Farm...By then Mr Wheler had 25 .C r oss another stile then come to the small bridge under the lime trees where the entrance to the sold the rest of Palace Farm to the Homewood "One day I find a large piece of curved rusty rock in fa m i l y,but this did not include Wood Brook field and the sand next to us.I take it to school for our 'finds' and stile you crossed at point 4 above .You can now sp o r ts field is now.. . T h e r e was an urgency to rea c h re-trace your steps,back under the railwa y bridge, the marqu e e ...to see if one's table decoration of Br ook Woo d ,w h e r e the Homewoods remained ta b l e .A boy in my class says it is a dinosaur's hip te n a n t s .M a i n l y because this parcel of land was so bo n e .I am hopeful but doubtful." alongside the railwa y to Hither Field,back to Station ha r ebells from the Downs had beaten the pretty one Ro a d , turning left back towa r ds the village, ac r oss the of wild scabious...There wer e sports events and is o l a t e d ,u n d r a i n e d , and acted as a barrier betwee n the playing field and Pett Farm,which the Alison's piece shows how sand quarrying has shape d A20 and into the village,then turning right for Market competitions such as tossing a bale of hay with a Pl a c e . pi t c h f ork and clay pipe smoking...The gardens wer e Ho m e woods now own e d , the now named not only the landscape but the lives of local people "Alderbed Meadow" was unused by the Home- to o . open and tennis tournaments wer e held on the two co u r ts in the grou n d s . " woods as tenants.It was not until 1999 that Granvi l l e Wheler agreed to give the Alderbed Meadow to the From point I to point J Point c - Alderbed Meadow Pl a ying Field Committee.So it was over 40 years that it remained unused and undisturbed." 22 . Turn rig h t , onto Charing Heath Road. This six acre area of wet meadow and woodland is a Point d - Pett Place POINT J - THE 'OLD ROAD ' piece of living history.While land all around has been Old Road Biddenden to drained and turned into playing fields or arable Boundgate turnpike fa r m l a n d , this area has remained much as it was in the This beautiful house was built by the Sayer family in A wander down the da ys befor e modern agriculture. Hi s t o r i c a l l y part of the early 18th century around the core of an earlier, lost highway the farm originally attached to the Arc h b i s h o p ' s 16th century house.Th e r e are also traces of Norman Pa l a c e ,it is now owned and managed as a commun i t y ce l l a r s , indicating a long history of occupation.It is a Walking along this typical country lane,you wi l d l i f e area by the Charing Playing Field Committee. grade 1 listed building ma y find it hard to believe that this was once You are here Traditional management - grazing in the grassland and the main road to Maidstone.This rou t e , coppicing in the woodland - has been revi ve d ,t o The main house is just one of a number of interes t i n g kn o wn simply as the Old Road,ran from the maintain these habitats.Local resident Martin Pym, buildings here.The most notable of the structures is cro s s r oads you just passed,wes t w a rd s who is chairman of the Steering Group that over s e e s pe r h a ps the ruined chape l , which is a Scheduled Ancient Monum e n t , consisting of a flint-built gable th r ough the settlement of Charing Heath Map showing the ‘Old Road’ the site,wr ote a fascinating account of the how this

10 11 end with a pointed window and part of the north Point j - Lacton Wood ma p shows active pits here with limekilns for turning A note on the rou t e wa l l . It has been suggested that in fact this is not a the chalk into quicklime.At the time,these quarri e s Keep straight ahead and walk through the field. ge n uine Norman chape l , but that materials wer e Lacton Wood is the first of two ancient woo d l a n d s ma y have seemed like a scar on the landscape ,bu t Come to a building and turn left.Look for marker ta k en from the Norman cellars of the house and on this trail. Ancient woodlands have existed since at this area has since regenerated into an area so rich in ar rows on a small oak tree and turn right.Come to a used to create a fol l y in the 18th century.The least 1600,and prob a b l y for much longer (for more plant life the Kent Wi l d l i f e Trust have designated it a post and rail fence and fol l o w a marker . me d i a e val aisled timber tithe barn, re-faced with red on this,see the section on 'Special Woodlands' on Site of Nature Conservation Interes t . Wild flower s brick in the 17th century,is a grade 2* listed building. page 14).Lacton Wood stands on the Gault Clay and thriving here include cows l i p ,autumn gentian and a Point r - Down Woo d has a stream running through it,so is extrem e l y damp number of orch i d s . Point e - Note on the route in wet winters.In spring it is a riot of ramsons and As you cross this field,look to your right and you will other wild flower s , including some that specialise in CAUT I O N :B ew a r e of steep drop s . see a woodland called Down Woo d .D o wn Woo d Look for a stile opposite a post box .C ross into the this now uncommon wet woodland habitat. No t e : This area is ‘access land’ (marked by pale used to be much larger,co vering more than twice its field then veer left and walk diagon a l l y across the field orange boundary on map) . cu r rent area . The 'refe r ence' accompanying the 1840 tow a r ds a fence line with a few large trees on it. A note on the rou t e tithe map,which gives details of ever y piece of land in Fol l o w the fence line until you come to the corner of Fol l o w the path through the wood and reach the Point o - Ranpura Farm area the parish,rec o r ds it at 97 acres . the field with a metal field gate and a stile. st re a m .C r oss a plank bridge,look to your left and see a stile.Cr oss the stile into a field,turn left and The 1840 tithe map,sh o ws the area where Ranpura Point s - Charing Windmill Point f - Romano-British building fol l o w the edge of the woo d l a n d , then a hedge, Farm now stands as woo d l a n d . It also shows another tow a r ds and past a small white house.Come to the woodland on the other side of the lane,in two Charing Windmill was built in the early 19th century Cr opmarks observed on aerial photographs wer e corner of the hedge and see a stile straight ahead. sections called Furze Field Wood and Hoe Field and is a grade 2 listed building.It is refe r red to as a the first clue to the discover y of a Romano-British Cr oss it onto a lane. Wood which is now completely lost.The wor d 'furze' 'smock' mill - its shape resembles a ladies smock.No building not far from here.Ex c a vations in 1975 suggests an area of gor s e .On the south side of this longer in use the mill is now a private residence - revealed that it was a fou r- r oomed structure with Point k - Wi c k en Lane woodland was a cottage called Lone Barn - this too please respect the ragstone walls,and a hyp e r caust (underground heat- has now gon e , although a small square fea t u r e shown privacy of the occupiers. ing system) and is thought perhaps to have originated This track is a part of Wi c k en Lane that was never on the route map may be its rem a i n s . as a bronze workshop and later been conver ted to 'adopted' as a highway and so remained un-metalled. A note on the rou t e agricultural use (perhaps corn dryi n g ) . A coin fou n d Just think what it would have been like travelling at a Point p - Stakesdale Woo d Once past the mill bear indicates occupation between AD 225 and 409. time when most roads wer e mud dy tracks like this! left and fol l o w the path Local resident Tim Bain-Smith gave us a map marked This is the second ancient woodland on the rou t e .It be t w een a high fen c e Point g - CAUTION with a number of archaeological finds and fea t u r es of is quite differ ent in character to Lacton Wood - drier and hedge.Emerge into this area . This track is one of a few 'hollow ways ' with acidic soils, as indicated by the open, gor s e y area a rough field and walk This is not a busy lane but is narrow with some blind ma r k ed - these are tracks so old they have wor n in the middle of it.The name 'Stakesdale' may come di a go n a l l y across it, be n d s . do wn into the landscape .Tim also indicated that a 4th fr om its past use for providing stakes for hop garde n s . do wnhill towa r ds the ce n t u r y coin was found close to the track,and that fu r thest corner.Wal k Point h - Wi c k ens Manor Wi c k en Lane marks the old parish boundary. Point q - Woo d b a n k into a small area of woodland and bear left This delightful Elizabethan manor,for m e r l y known as Point m - Short cut option At this point you will walk out of the woods and into do wn some steps. Wyk y n ys was built by the Brent family in the 15th a long,na r row field.Look to your right and you will ce n t u r y,with 16th and 17th century addi t i o n s .T h e r e To take a short cut,and avoid crossing the A2 5 2 ,t u r n see a line of old trees on a bank.This is almost Point t - Vi ew p o i n t ar e many original fea t u r es inside the house, in c l u d i n g left and walk along the pavement for a short distance ce rt a i n l y an old wood boundary,indicating that this a fireplace in the hall from about 1530, and the then turn left down The Hill (signposted Charing), field used to be woodland too. As you emerge from Charing Windmill timber framing has been altered little.John Brent is back towa r ds the village. the trees here you will be greeted by a superb view said to have entertained Henry VIII here on his way of Charing and the surrounding area (see cover to the siege of Boulogne in 1544.In t e re s t i n g l y,th e To do the long rou t e ,fol l o w the signs for the North ph o t o ’ ) . The church can be clearly seen as can the Arc h b i s h o p ’ s Palace was ‘c o n veyed to the crown’ just Do wns Way,turn left,walk a short distance,th e n pa t c h w ork of fields and woodlands which in places a year later! cr oss the main road and walk up a track signed has changed little for centuries.The building you can Pilgrim's Way next to a small cottage (Reeves see at the bottom of this path is a Victorian pump Point i - Wootton Manor Co t t a g e ) . EXTREME CAUT I O N : The A252 is a ver y ho u s e ,no w a private res i d e n c e . busy main road with fast traffic.It has three lanes and The lovel y moat here at Wootton Manor (for m e r l y vehicles coming uphill may be overt a k i n g . Please cros s A note on the rou t e called Yew Tree Farm) is thought to be mediaeva l . with care. Co n t i n ue down h i l l ,b e t w een fen c e s , past the Old While many sites of this kind have been parti a l l y lost, Pump House.At the bottom,turn left,onto the all four sides of the moat here are intact,and three of Point n - Disused quarri e s No r th Downs Way.Fol l o w the track for a short them still hold water,as you can see.Moats like this distance and come to a junction.Turn right.He a d ar e often good for wildlife such as amphibians, The chalk quarries on this part of the downs are do wnhill towa r ds the main road (A252).Cr oss the wetland plants,bi r ds and aquatic insects. 19th century in origin - the 1876 Ordnance Survey road and head down the lane direc t l y opposite (The Hill) signposted Charing. An old hornbeam - probably a boundary marker, on the woodbank 12 13 Tithes wer e a mediaeval form of tax - a tax by the church on local pa r i s h i o n e r s . The wor d 'tithe' means one tenth - this was the prop o rt i o n Special Tithe of their production (be it wheat or wool or produce) that parishioners Special Tithe had to hand over ever y yea r . woodlandswoodlands MapsMaps John Seldon,an important English legal figure in the 17th century,voi c e d Glance at any map of this area and you will a widespread objection to the system when he said of tithes: qu i c k l y see that Charing is quite a wel l - wooded parish .Much of this woodland is "...tis ridiculous to say the Tythes is God's part and therefo r e the clergy must have them..." termed 'ancient',but what does this mean? The situation with tithes was changed,as wer e so many things in ,by Henry VI I I . When he dissolved the Natural England's definition is:"An ancient monasteries in the 16th century,much land belonging to the church was transfer red to private own e r s h i p ,and the woodland is one that has existed since at rights to tithe went with it.Th e r e was also a move awa y from payments 'in kind' (the actual crops and produce) to least 1600 A D,and possibly much longer. mo n e t a r y paym e n t s . This became known as 'commut i n g ' . Prior to this date,planting of woo d l a n d was ver y uncommon which suggests that if In 1836,the situation changed again,with the introduction of the Tithe Ac t . In this,all tithes across the country had a wood was present in 1600 it is likel y to to be commuted by law.The Act also brought about 'enquiries' on tithe arrangements in ever y parish in England ha ve been there for some time previ o u s l y, and Wal e s . This led to the drawing up of tithe 'app o r tionments' and accompanying maps in about 75% of parishes.It and may be a remnant of the original is one of these maps , that our anonymous contributor leant to the Lost Landscapes proj e c t . 'w i l d w ood' which once cover ed most of Britain . .." The maps and app o r tionments together give a ver y detailed picture of rural life and the landscape in the middle of the 19th century.Ma ps vary in scale,accuracy and the amount of detail - some show only the bare essentials. You can find clues about whether a Fort u n a t e l y,the Charing map is rel a t i ve l y well detailed and seems to be almost as accurate as an Ordnance Survey woodland is ancient by looking at its ma p. pl a n t s .C e r tain plants are known as 'ancient SNCI boundaries It was hand-drawn in 1840 by J.Dr ewr y of Eastling and was in fact a revised version of a plan of 1813 by a R.H. woodland indicators' - if a number of them Ancient woodland can be found in a woo d , that is evi d e n c e Parish boundaries Dr a g o,a timber surveyor from High Holborn in London.Although faded by time the map is coloured , with roads in for it being ancient. pale orange,woodlands in yel l ow - g re e n ,p a s t u r e fields a darker green and arable fields left blank.Woodland and scrub are indicated by tiny trees and bushes.Ri ve r s ,p o n d s , roads and individual buildings are all shown ,a l t h o u g h Co n s e r vationists reg a r d ancient woodland as the qu a r ries and other workings are not.Th e closest thing to 'natural' woodland that we have in ma p is quite easy to use,although one the managed landscapes of Britain.In Ken t ,t h o s e confusing thing is that it is not drawn with with rare habitats and species are often designated no r th at the top,instead being skewed on as Sites of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCIs) a south-west orientation.Ma n y fea t u re s by Kent Wi l d l i f e Tru s t . Charing is for tunate in that ar e labelled,and ever y single field,woo d ma n y of its ancient woodlands are SNCIs.Th e and garden is marked with a refe re n c e ma p above shows which woodlands in the num b e r . Charing area are ancient and which are SNCIs. Ac c o m p a n ying the map is a 'refe r ence' - a Ma n y ancient woodlands in Kent have a long hand-written book giving details of the hi s t o r y of management by coppicing.This is the la n d . To use it,you simply look up the traditional practice of reg u l a r l y cutting small area s A portion of the map showing roads, refe r ence number of the area you are of trees down to a stump and letting them re- buildings, fields and gardens with their in t e r ested in and it will tell you its own e r gr ow as many thin stems. Un fo rt u n a t e l y,co p p i c i n g reference numbers, and water features, and occupier,its traditional name, it s declined in the 20th century and many woods are including the moat when still intact. ac r eage and,pe r h a ps most interes t i n g l y, it s no w ver y over g r own . 'state of cultivation' - what the land was being used for at that time.It gives a One place where coppicing is still going on is the fascinating snap shot of land use in the Alderbed Meadow (see page 11),wh e r e the pa r i s h , including a summary (or Kentish Stour Countryside Project in partn e r s h i p ‘re c a pitulation) of various land types and with the Alderbed Meadow Steering group and their acrea g e s : arable dominates with the local community are coppicing small area s . T h e 2424 acres ;t h e r e are 1229 acres of benefits of this are explained in the site’s pa s t u r e,684 acres of wood (giving management plan: “The coppice area will grea t l y Charing a 15% woodland cover ) , 79 acres in c r ease light reaching the woodland floor,an d of 'buildings,ya r ds and garde n s ' , 72 acres enhance the growth of herbaceous plants.This will of common,60 acres of hops and 9 acres benefit the inver tebrate fauna and in turn help the of 'lime kilns etc'. bi r d and small mammal population.” The Alderbed Meadow and Pett Place as The tithe map reference they were in 1840, showing that the woodland at the Alderbed Meadow was 14 larger then. 15 Contributors We would like to thank the fol l o wing contributors to this booklet (in alphabetical orde r ) : Tim Bain-Smith Allan Dixon Kentish Stour Countryside Proj e c t Alison McNaught John McIntyre R.M o r g a n Ma r tin Pym Lucy Simmons Sheila and Ton y Vi n s o n We would also like to express our gratitude to all the other local people who took part in meetings, walks and res e a rc h ,p a rt i c u l a r l y Maggi Hill and Susan Hudswell who helped out in the early stages. Thanks to Ken Law from Cuxton parish for checking the route direc t i o n s . This booklet was edited and designed by Clarity Interpretation (01303 249501 clarity.i n t e r p re t a t i o n @ v i r g i n . n e t ) . Useful information This circular route is one of a series of Lost Landscapes Heritage Trails that have been developed in the fol l ow i n g parishes along the North Down s : Cu x t o n ,D e t l i n g ,T h u r n h a m , Ho l l i n g b o u r n e ,Chilham and Charth a m . For further information about Lost Landscapes and walking opportunities along the North Downs Way visit ww w. n a t i o n a l t r a i l . c o. u k / n o rt h d o wns or e-mail north d ow n sw ay @ ke n t . g ov.uk or telephone 08458 247600. For further walking opportunities in Kent please visit www.ke n t . g ov.u k / e x p l o re k ent or telephone 08458 247600. The Countryside Code. Be safe - plan ahead and fol l o w arrows or signs Le a ve gates and prop e r ty as you find them Pr otect plants and animals and take your litter home Keep dogs under close control Consider other people Waym a r k i n g During your walk you will see arrows marking various public rights of way:

M Footpath (on foot only) M Bridleway (on foot,horseback or pedal cycle) M Byway (all traffic) Please tell us about any problems concerning the paths by using the Kent Report Line - 0845 345 0210.