Page:VCH Kent 1.djvu/522

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A HISTORY OF KENT enclosure remains, about three-quarters of a mile north-west of the parish church. QuEENBOROUGH. — The homestead moat, situated about 500 ft. east of Sheppey Castle, is shown on the plan of that work (Class D). RoLVENDEN : LowDEN Manor, also called causing the water to flow into the moats, and it seems as if the action of the dam could be so regulated as, in case of need, to flood the ground between the two branches of the stream excepting the central island, which would thus be secured against all foes. Horsmonden was a clearing in the dense forest of Andred, probably dating from later Little Maytham, is mentioned by Hasted, Saxon days than the settlements on the hills and open lands. Possibly this moated en- closure may be of that period. Simple home- stead enclosures, guarded by a single fosse or moat, may often have been intended mainly for protection from wolves and other wild beasts, but so complex an arrangement as this example shows indicates defence against human enemies — maybe against Danish marauders. Ightham : The Moat. — This well-known castle-mansion, one of the most picturesque house remaining, ' but the scite of the antient mansion, and the moat around it, are still visible.' ^ Sevington : Boys Hall is in the parish of Willesborough, but the site of the old hall which preceded it is just over the border, in Sevington. Here, according to Hasted, the spot formerly occupied is known as The Moat.^ Shipborne. — There are remains of a moated enclosure in the lower part of the Park. Speldhurst : Groombridge Place. — The in England, will be described in another description of this place of picturesque sur- chapter ; here it is sufficient to note that the roundings must be left to another chapter ; waters of a small feeder of the Medway are here it is sufficient to draw attention to the held back by a substantial dam, flooding the practically perfect moat, broad and deep, wide moat which surrounds the ancient surrounding the buildings, buildings. Staplehurst : Brattle. — This enclosure, IvvADE : Moat Farm. — Situated near the with its protecting moat much mutilated, lies waters of a creek of the Medway, on the bor- about a mile south-west from the church. Sutton Valence : Moatenden. — On the west of the road to Tenterden are consider- able remains of a moated enclosure. Thanington : Tuniford. — The ancient mansion which stood here was well defended by a moat of which some portion remains, together with a gateway arch, and other masonry incorporated with the present house. Westwell : Yewtree House. — Here are fragmentary remains of a moat on the east side of the railway. Wittersham : Palstre Court. — Muchun- mutilated remnant of the moat exists round the enclosure. Woodnesborough : Grove Manor. — The moating here remains in parts of its course. Woodnesborough : Polton Manor. — der of the marsilands, the position probably needed defence in early days, and considerable moating is in evidence. Kingsnorth : Manor House. — A com- plete moat remains around the site of the old manor house about half a mile north-east of the church. Leigh : Great Barnetts. — Fairly perfect moat remains, about half a mile east of Leigh church. Marden : Moat Farm. — Only part of the original enclosure is now moated. Mersham : Quarrington.— Here is a nearly complete example of homestead moat- ing in the north of Mersham parish. Milton (near Sittingbourne) : Great Norwood. — Stephen, son of Jordan de Shepey, obtained a grant of the manor of Originally Poltmans, from the name of the Northwood, otherwise Norwood, and built mansion here in the time of Richard I or John. It may be that to him we owe the extensive moating, much of which remains around the farmhouse and buildings. The place must [have been of considerable impor- tance, as Stephen assumed the name De Norwood, which all his descendants continued to use.' Newenden : Losenham. — Part of a moat appears to remain on the west side of the site of the Carmelite Priory. Pluckley : Pevington. — An oblong moated family residing there, their mansion being castellated and surrounded with a moat.* The house was rebuilt in 1629, the moat being retained. Wroth AM : Moat Farm.— Little traces remain of the once considerable moating round the enclosure, which is about a mile south-east of the church. Yalding : Cheveney. — Here are the nearly complete remains of a small homestead moat, about a mile north-west of Hunton Court Lodge. Hasted, Hist, of Kent (1782), ii. « Hist. Kent (1790) iii. 89. ' Ibid. 277. « Hasted, Hist. Kent (1799), iv. 238. 428