Letters to the Editor, Winter 2004/5
Winter 2004/5
Dear Editor,
I am currently researching Tudor and early Stuart deer parks in Kent (1500-1660) for an MPhil/PhD at Canterbury Christ Church University College. Taking Lambarde’s list of the 1570s and others on maps or mentioned in other documentary evidence, I hope (where possible) to trace the boundaries of these deer parks in the landscape today and to explore documentary evidence for various aspects of their management.
I am writing this to appeal to readers for help in tracing these parks and in locating documentary sources, perhaps family estate papers which remain in private collections. I am hoping that the various Local History Societies or local historians who might know of deer parks in their locality will come forward and share their interest and expertise with me.
Lambarde’s list is as follows:
Aldington disparked
Alington disparked
Ashowre
At Ashford
Bedgebury
Brasted disparked
Broxam disparked
Byrling
Cage disparked
Calehill
Cobham
Cooling
Eltham x 3
Folkston disparked
Glassenbury
Greenwich
Groombridge
Halden disparked
Hamswell
Henden disparked
Hever disparked
Hungershall
Ightham disparked
Knoll
Langley disparked
Leeds
Lullingstone
Lye disparked
Mereworth disparked
North frythe x 3
Otford x 2 - 1 disparked
Oxenhoth x 2 disparked
Panthyrst disparked
Penshurst
Postern disparked
St Augustines
Saltwood disparked
Shoreland disparked
Sissingherst
Southparke
Stonehyrst disparked
Stowting
Sutton disparked
Westerhanger x 2
Wrotham disparked
Other parks which have come to my attention:
Speed’s map has: Bromley (Bishop of Rochester), Scott’s hall (nr Smeeth), Hanger, Bocton-Malherbe, Throughley (Throwley), Eastwell, Lynsted Park. Saxton’s map adds: Forde nr Canterbury, Hastingligh, Hemsted nr Sissinghurst, Ulcum (Ulcombe) nr Lenham. Also: Mote, Maidstone (1st mentioned as park 1500), West Wickham (evidence of park still with deer in 1567), Chilham (228a), East Wickham, Mersham-Hatch (380a), Godinton, nr Great Chart, Lees Court nr Challock.
I would be most grateful for any help in making the research as comprehensive as possible and can be contacted via details below.
Mrs Susan Pittman
27 Old Chapel Road, Crockenhill, Swanley BR8 8LL
01322 669923
pittman@crockenhill.freeserve.co.uk
WEALDEN SETTLEMENT STUDY CIRCLE
In September 2002 several people who had been independently researching aspects of late Saxon and post-Conquest settlement of the Weald set up the Wealden Settlement Study Circle, defined as ‘an informal network of people undertaking academically respectable research on the settlement of the Weald of Sussex, Surrey and Kent, particularly in the Saxon and post-Conquest eras, membership of which is by recommendation or invitation.’
There are 15 members, from various parts of Sussex and Surrey, though none as yet from Kent. Although the main interest of most is based on documentary research, allied to study of the landscape, relationships with prehistory on the one hand and modern developments on the other, are not ruled out. Meetings to discuss common interests, held twice or thrice a year in East Grinstead, and personal communications, have helped everyone widen and deepen their knowledge and understanding of their own particular pursuits.
Further information may be obtained from M J Leppard (Convenor),
20 St George’s Court, East Grinstead, Sussex RH19 1QP, tel: 01342 322511.