A HISTORY OF KENT 



The third group lies also on the right-hand side of the roadway, but at a distance of 

 about 50 yards from it. It contains many large stones lying in a state of confusion, which 

 suggests that the whole structure has either tumbled down or been purposely destroyed. A 

 vigorous growth of bushes unfortunately hides some of these large blocks of stone, but some 

 are visible, and one, which may perhaps have served as a capstone, measures 12 ft. 6 in. by 

 7 ft. 8 in., and is 2 ft. in thickness. It is this third group of stones which Mr. Petrie shows 

 to have occupied the north-east end of the avenue. 



CoLDRUM. Remains of an important megalithic structure e.xist at Coldrum Farm in 

 Trottisclifle parish, situated about ij miles north of the stones in Addington Park just 

 mentioned, and about J mile north-east of Trottisclifle Church. As already mentioned 

 in quoting Mr. Petrie's description, these stones at Coldrum or Coldreham (as he calls 

 it) are arranged in the form of a quadrangular enclosure round a central chamber of which 

 the two massive upright stones still remain. A glance at the stones, both those which formed 

 the central chamber and those which surrounded it, is sufficient to show that this was a monu- 

 ment of quite equal if not superior importance to that at Kits Coty House, and it is interesting 

 to note that while that at Coldrum stands on the west bank of the Medway, Kits Coty House 

 stands on the east bank. Both are situated on the lower slopes of the chalk hills, yet suffici- 

 ently high to command extensive views and to be visible the one from the other. 



Another interesting point of similarity in the two cromlechs is that the space between 

 the two main upright stones is pretty evenly divided by transverse stones, in the case of Kits 

 Coty House by one, in that of Coldrum by two. In both cromlechs, therefore, we find double 

 chambers, intended probably for two interments. The capstone is lacking in the Coldrum 

 cromlech, but the two main upright stones, which are still in their original position, are re- 

 markably massive, one being 1 1 ft. long, 7 ft. 2 in. high, and 2 ft. 3 in. thick, whilst the other 

 is only slightly smaller. One of the largest of the stones forming the quadrangular enclosure 

 is placed obliquely in the earth, and doubtless a considerable portion is below the surface ; 

 what is visible, however, measures 8 ft. 8 in. wide, 5 ft. high, and 3 ft. thick. 



That the Coldrum cromlech was of great importance seems quite clear, and if the curi- 

 ously square and regular forms of the upright stones are due to artificial shaping, the structure 

 may be regarded as not only the finest, but also the latest example of the megalithic sepulchral 

 chambers of the Kentish group. 



It is possible that some of the masses of Sarsen stone which occur in various parts of Kent 

 may be remains of sepulchral chambers, but the fact that they also occur naturally on the 

 surface of the ground makes it practically impossible to determine the point. 



There seems good evidence that a sepulchral chamber of the character described above 

 once existed near Cobham Church. In or about the year 1830 Mr. F. C. Lukis 1 observed 

 remains of it, but unfortunately the structure had been destroyed and only one large stone, 

 too heavy to carry away, had been suffered to remain. 



Maplescombe. In the ruined church of Maplescombe, not far from Dartford, there 

 are four Sarsen stones in a position which suggests artificial arrangement, but of course it does 

 not follow that they are connected with the megalithic remains for which the more central 

 part of the county is famous. 



Two interesting pieces ^ of neolithic pottery have recently been found in Mid-Kent, 

 both of which are now in the Maidstone Museum. One, 4i in. diam. and 2J in. high, 

 was found at Maidstone ; the other, 3 in. diam. and 2-i in. high, was procured at Rose 

 Wood, Ightham. 



The Bronze Age 



There can have been but few, if any, more important prehistoric 

 events than the discovery of metals. Bronze, which is known to have 

 been in use long before iron, although inferior to the latter in certain 

 qualities, possessed many valuable properties, which were lacking in 

 flint and other hard substances which had been employed hitherto. 



» Joiirn. Brit. Arch. Assoc, ix. 427. = Arch. Cant, xxvii. pp. Ixxvi-kxviii. 



320 



