LostLost Landscapesandscapes HERITAGEL TRAIL A shrunken hamlet,some of the rarest wild flowers in Britain and a tomb in the middle of a large woodland.These are just some of the highlights on this Lost Landscapes Heritage Trail,a new circular walk Cuxton along the North Downs Way. The main trail explores the parish of Cuxton,a place of ancient woodlands and historic settlements,with spectacular views over the Medway and a network of dry valleys.Cuxton's heritage really does span the whole of human history - from a Stone Age axe factory to the building of the Medway Bridge . If you wish, you can extend the trail by taking the 'Darnley diversion' into the Cobham Estate. The main text of the booklet consists of detailed directions and information on points of interest along the trail.The back pages of the booklet cover other important 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 booklet. The Cuxton Heritage Trail has been carefully chosen to take in the best of the heritage features of the area. As you walk you will find that the history has been brought back to life by the wonderful recollections and memories of local people. Enjoy your journey back in time! A bout the trail... Di s t a n c e s Terr a i n Main route (purple) - 3.7 miles Unmade tracks through fields and woo d s .M u d dy at From start to point A hi t , or merel y grazed,was Court Lodge,home of Sh o r ts drawing offices [Shorts was an aircraft manu- 'D a r n l e y diversion' (orange) - 2.2 miles ti m e s . Some steep climbs (marked on map) . 1.S t a r t at Cuxton station.Walk up Station Road,awa y fa c t u r er based in the area]...The staff had left in a H fr om the station and Cuxton Marin a . The road bends to body and wer e now gathered outside the Wh i t e the left.Fol l o w it until you come to a T junction with the Ha r t expecting to be let in and provided with I G main road (A228),with the White Hart pub on your left. br a n d y ! " POINT A - WHITE HART PUB These extracts are taken from Cuxton Remembered by Roman beginnings and Lilian Bennett. F wartime memories From point A to point B The White Hart pub was built in 1860.During con- 2. At the end of Station Road,turn right then use the cros s - st r u c t i o n , considerable finds of Roman pottery wer e ing place to cross the main roa d . CAUT I O N : This is a very ma d e .The finds are now lost but it is rec o r ded that busy roa d , please take care. D one of the vessels had the name of the potter, Y Ma t e r nu s , stamped on it.This is one of many pieces of 3. Having crossed the roa d , turn rig h t ,c r oss Bush Road and Y P evidence for substantial Roman occupation in this walk past the petrol station.You are now on Sundrid g e Hill. C pa r t of the parish.We'll find out more about that on Continue until you rea c h a left hand turn called Pilgrim s our return to the village at the end of the walk. E ! Way .Stop here (do not turn left yet ) . ! Y The Lost Landscapes project rec e i v ed a contribution POINT B - MEDWAY VALLEY B that included a personal account of the White Hart A view of history spanning J written by Lilian Bennett,who first went to live at the pub in 1914.She recalled how this part of the village over 1400 years lo o k ed then: ! Look to your right over the Medway Val l e y,tow a rd s N A START K m (Cuxton "At that time the 'White Hart' grounds stret c h e d the Medway bridge.When it was built in 1963,th i s right across to the station on one side,and almost to bridge was the longest of its type in the wor l d .L o c a l L Y Station) the Vicarage drive on Church Hill.Th e r e was not a resident Dave May took this photograph of the N house in sight,but the marsh today is almost the bridge under construction. For key to background map refer to any same as it was then...Then there wer e the hops,all up Ordnance Survey Explorer map M one side of the village street (Bush Road) and Da ve has told us extending past the school..." about his inves t i g a - Main route P Parking tions of the river at ‘Darnley diversion’ m Pub serving food Lilian rec o r ded memories from both World War s . lo w tide,wh i c h A Point of interest in text Steep climb revealed the ! Y Bench Fr om WW I : pr esence of tree s CAUTION at this point "S u dd e n l y 'Big Lizzie' (the gun on the other side of stumps in the ~ Viewpoint Steps the river) pounded awa y.The whole pub shook...As in t e r tidal mud : we looked out of the window we saw a Zeppelin The map above shows the trail rou t e s , and the booklet contains detailed written directions in num b e r ed steps,bu t which my aunt said was prob a b l y going towa rd s “The ancient tree you may find it useful to take an Ordnance Survey map for this area - Explorer no.148 or Landranger no.17 8 . Lo n d o n . " roots started about mid way between the Getting to Cuxton Fr om WW I I : bridge and the brick- By train - there is a station in Cuxton, which is also the start point of the trail.The station is on the Medway Val l e y "I decided to go to the woods to get some black- works cree k .T h e s e line between Strood and Paddock Woo d . For train times telephone 08457 484950. be rr i e s , and while there the air raid warning sounded. tr ee roots are only A huge black bomber swooped over h e a d , with exposed on spring By car - take the A228 from junction 2 of the M2 or junction 4 of the M20.The A228 will take you into the centre sp i t f i r es after it...I cower ed in the hedge,bullets wer e tides...on a layer of of Cuxton.Look for a cros s r oads at the White Hart pub and turn down Station Road.Pa r k i n g : on street along fl ying every w h e r e...In a few minutes it was all over. I what appears to be Station Road,at the White Hart pub (please give them your custom) or car park at top of Sundridge Hill. decided to carry on picking blackberries and about 5 pe a t . Most of the By bus - the 151 service goes through Cuxton.Th e r e is a bus stop by the White Hart pub (point A on the trail). o' c l o c k , headed for home.When I got to the top of roots are wel l Ch u r ch Hill,I stopped in amazement.Outside the decomposed but a Be safe, be prep a re d pub wer e crowds of people.I raced down the hill - I few still have quite hard parts . ” (Please note - it is Please take care when walking on roads (use pavement if available or keep to the right) and crossing roads and rail- thought the pub had been hit.Not so.What had been ver y dangerous to walk in the river channel.) way s . Points where 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 walker s ) .A lw a ys keep to the countryside code (see back of booklet). 3 POINT C - LONGHOES WOO D welcome to explore the rest of the farm via the ar able fie l d . (If you look to your right you may see the First steps into the ancient ne t w ork of marked paths: pointed top of the Darnley Mausoleum in the tree s . Glimpses of the Mausoleum from a distance were woodland "Ranscombe Farm is a combined nature res e r ve and designed to remind you of your morta l i t y.