More information : [Extends from TQ 5879 4673 to TQ 5921 4645]
Fosse [NR]
Fosse [NR] (Site of) [NAT] (1)
[See reproduction from Kent 50-12] Earthwork [NR] (four times) (2)
Licence to enclose the town of Tonbridge with a wall, and to
crenellate it, was granted by Henry III in 1259. None of the wall
survives but parts of the ditch remain and the whole of the course maybe traced. The enclosure is completed by the Medway on the south and
a tributary stream on the west. Some of the water from the latter mayhave been diverted to fill part, at least, of the ditch. (3-5)
Short stretches of the inner bank, sometimes reduced to an outward
facing scarp, with traces of the ditch, are visible here and there in
open parts of the town.
Published survey (1:2500, 1959) correct. (6)
[TQ 591 468] In January 1976, excavations were carried out on
Tonbridge's town defences. A clay bank c. 10 metres wide and standingc. 4.5 metres high without revetment was uncovered. A shallow ditch, c. 6 metres wide and 2.5 metres deep, lay outside. The presence of more material in the bank than could have been excavated from the ditch suggests that the defences may be contemporary with the diversion of the river, probably in the middle 13th century. The suggested position of the medieval gate, adjacent to High Street, was also excavated and the front face of the bank was located; there was no evidence of the gate, which presumably lies under the present road. (7-12)
Description. (13) |