History of Kent.[1] "Castle Toll. This is a raised piece of land, containing, I guess, about eighteen or twenty acres, and situated on a point of land between the river Rother and Haydon "[Hexden]" sewer; it lies about one mile and a quarter nearly east-north-east from Newenden street, and about two miles south-west from Rolvenden. On the east side it hath the remains of a deep ditch and bank, which seems to have gone quite round it. Near this Toll towards the north-north-east lies a piece of ground raised much higher than the Toll is; this was encompassed with a double ditch, the tracks of which are still to be seen in some places; and within the line is, I believe, about five or six acres of land." It being expressly declared, that the above account was given after a personal inspection, we must either admit the existence about 150 years ago of much which has now disappeared, or else pronounce the historian unworthy of credit. Dr. Harris prepares his readers to expect the gradual obliteration of the vestiges he describes through the usual effects of agricultural operations. But an intimate acquaintance on my part with both the spot in question and the late proprietor having commenced about forty years ago, I believe that, instead of the marks of early occupation becoming effaced by slow degrees, they were purposely levelled with the object of improving the general aspect and convenience of the farm. The only portion of the works noticed in the above quotation which is now traceable, or has been within my recollection, is what is there stated to have been "raised much higher than the Toll," and "encompassed with a double ditch." This is a high mound of earth of only moderate diameter, manifestly, at least in part, if not wholly, artificial, the depressions of the ditches having been much diminished through cultivation of the land during my own familiarity with the spot.
The only ostensible reason why this has been deemed the site of Andredesceaster is, that it once contained, as we have just seen, a considerable and elaborate fortification; but neither does it now exhibit, nor has it ever displayed, so far as our intelligence reaches, any evidence of that extraordinary constructive skill and care, for which the Romans were remarkable, and of which evidence examples even now remain, it must be
- ↑ Folio, 1719, p. 215.
