ANCIENT EARTHWORKS the rampart at other points. The former has the appearance in its present condition of having been a ' mount,' but this appearance is mainly owing to the destruction of the rampart on both sides and a slight dip on the inside, and it may be noted that the base of this corner is narrower than the base of the rampart at the south-west. Though it is outside the province of this article to discuss at length the period of its construction it may be said that this fortress, and its relation to the surrounding country, cannot be viewed without feeling it probable that the work is due either to Danish marauders, who came here by water and made this the base for raids on the rich lowlands, or to Saxons who reared it as a preventive station to check such inroads.' According to some authorities this is the site of Atiderida, but we find no evidence of Roman work. To the south of the earthwork, at a short distance, are traces of further moating and scarping, which probably formed part of a large enclosure of nearly triangular form with Castle Toll at its extreme north- east point, and may be of earlier date than the latter. Castle Toll is regarded by some antiquaries as a much mutilated example of a Norman ' mount and bailey ' stronghold, while others think it a simple enclosure such as Saxons and Danes constructed, the lofty ramparts of which have been reduced, save at the north-east and south-west angles, leaving what appear as mounts at these corners. Under the circumstances, we have thought it best to include the work under Class X. PouLTON. — Close to St. Radigund's Abbey are irregular trenches extending over about forty acres of land. From the appearance of the outer lines of work this has been considered an ancient oppidum, but as the foundations of many walls, etc., have been found it is possible that the whole belongs to the mediaeval period. These works extend towards Poulton Farm, where are various banks which may be traces of ancient defence.^ RiNGwouLD : ' Roman Codde.' — In the valley at Kingsdown are said to be vestiges of an ancient camp referred to by old antiquaries under this curious name ; but the traces are too vague to justify faith in the existence of any kind of defensive work at any time. Ripple : Dane Pits. — Because Hasted and subsequent writers have referred to this earthwork we record its former existence. Hasted wrote, ' An entrenchment of an oblong square, comprehending about half an acre, with various little eminences in it.'^ The whole was ploughed over some forty years ago, but the land is now pasture, and standing by the site, nothing of Dane Pits is visible, but from the height of the hill on which Ripple windmill stands a clear definition of their area is discernible by the dip in the ground.* » R. Kilburne, in his Tofographie, or Survey of the County of Kent (1659), says : ' In this Parish, neer the Priory, stood a Castle, which was destroyed by the Danes in the year 892. . . . Onely the memory of the same is preserved, by a place there, still called Castle ToU.' s See Mr. G. Payne's list, under Alkham, in Arch. (1889), li. 3 Hist. Kent (1799), iv. 134. « Information kindly supplied by the Rev. H. L. Beardmore. 443
