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At Addington, deep in the Kent countryside, now divided
by a private garden and fields, mutilated by a road and fences, lies a little-known
Neolithic complex of long barrows and ruined chambered tombs known as ‘The
Chestnuts’.
Permission is needed to enter the land, and the owner of the private garden charges modest entrance fees for a fascinating tour and talk. It is difficult to decide whether the ruined stones are an interesting garden feature, or whether the garden is just currently hosting the stones. Either way, the whole area is charged with energy and has an atmosphere of deep tranquillity and peace.
Dating from the end of the Neolithic and early
Bronze Age, originally a sandy mound 20 metres long by 15 metres wide covered
the stone chamber, which faces east. Cremated bones were excavated here in 1957,
the owner having a scrap book detailing progress. It seems at one time
Mesolithic flint knapping also took place on this spot.
Outside in the fields can be traced other ruined
long barrows, including one which has a dirt road running straight across it.
Remains of stone chambers can be seen sadly in the grass. Why have monuments
like these been treated with such disrespect? Further information can be found at: http://www.bag.org.uk/jan99/medway1.htm |
