ANCIENT EARTHWORKS 



Homestead moats (class F) were usually constructed by the simple 

 expedient of digging a deep, wide fosse around and throwing the 

 material inwards, thus raising the island, or enclosed space, above the 

 level of the surrounding land ; occasionally we find the enclosures 

 divided by ditches or water moats into two or more islands, and some- 

 times provided with additional defences much partaking of the character 

 of works classed under G. 



Homestead moats were constructed so late as the i6th or 17th 

 century, but the majority are of far greater age ; some indeed may be 

 survivals from the days when Saxon settlers needed protection as well 

 from raiders as from wolves and other denizens of the vast forests, scarcely 

 less dreaded than human foes. 



We have placed the low-banked, shallow-ditched enclosures under 

 class H, as ' ancient village sites,' but do not commit ourselves to the 

 positive assertion that such was their purpose. 



Various works of doubtful origin and uncertain purpose are placed 

 in class X, where will also be found reference to the unique earthworks 

 at Lesnes (Erith), to the puzzling remains known as Castle Toll (New- 

 enden), and to some later defensive works. 



Mr. T. V. Holmes contributes the fullest account of the myste- 

 rious ' Deneholes ' which has appeared, and Mr. F. C. J. Spurrell 

 describes the * Embankments of the Thames,' a subject of which he 

 has made a special study. 



The Rev. H. L. Beardmore of Ripple has kindly devoted time 

 to the examination of various reputed camp sites ; Mr. F. C. J. Spurrell, 

 Mr. Harold Sands, Mr. George CHnch, and Mr. J. H. Allchin of 

 Maidstone Museum, have afforded information through their published 

 works or private letters ; Captain A. M. Henniker, R.E., has ex- 

 amined sites of camps near Canterbury ; and Mr. W. H. St. John Hope 

 has made valuable suggestions. Thanks are due to these gentlemen, and 

 especially to Colonel O. E. Ruck, R.E., for plans of works unrecorded 

 in the Ordnance maps and for many a journey made at the writer's 

 request, journeys which sometimes resulted in the discovery that the 

 ' camp ' described and pictured by some old writer was but an antiquary's 

 dream ! Needless to say, ample use has been made of Mr. George 

 Payne's laboriously compiled schedule.' 



Although some fragments of earthwork enclosures and of home- 

 stead moats are not included in the following pages, it is nevertheless 

 hoped that no remnant of importance is omitted. 



HILL FORTS, ETC. 



[Class B] 



BiGBURY. — See Harbledown. 



Charlton, near Woolwich : The Camp. — The hill of sand 

 and marl on which this camp stood has been and is being so extensively 



1 Archaeological Survey of Kent. Arch. (1889), li. 



