Fawke Common

The article by Roger Cockett on Fawkham Manor and the family of Falke (KAS Newsletter No. 38) caused me to wonder whether there was a connection between them and Fawke Common, part of the common land lying to the south-east of Knole at Sevenoaks. The derivation of the Fawke name has caused some speculation.

William Olyver is recorded as tenant of the land 'lying at the Falkden' in the parish of Seal in 1440. The land is identifiable from field names as lying at Fawke Common within Seal parish along its border with Sevenoaks. In 1334/5 a Thomas Falke paid 1/4d subsidy on land in the Hundred of Codsheath, within which both parishes lay.

Prof. Alan Everitt suggests that a droveway ran from close to the Fawkham Green/ Ash area (wherein Fawkham Manor lay) passing near Fawke Common to dissipate in the Leigh/Tonbridge area. Manors lying to the north are known to have had early pre-Conquest holdings in the latter area, used as dens. At later dates Fawkham is recorded as owning land there in 1086 and what is now Leigh village in 1279 and Ash as holding land there in 1086.

Prof. Everitt's book demonstrates that development in northwest Kent proceeded from north to south. It is not unreasonable to suggest therefore, that the land at Fawke Common was a den of Fawkham Manor, and that, lying as it does to the north of the dens which subsequently became the Lowy of Tonbridge, it may have been in use before them. Whilst documentary proof of this is at present lacking, there is an additional reason for supposing this could be true: lying adjacent to Fawke Common is an area smaller today than previously with the ancient name of Broadhoath, which if uncultivated, would be woodland. Witney suggests that "hoath" is derived from a word commonly naming the "sylva regalis" or Kings woodland of which a continuous tract to the north and east of the Weald was ceded away from exclusive use of the crown in about the 9th century.

This tract included a width on top of the Chart Hills escarpment to about one mile below it and both Fawke Common and Broadhoath lie within it. Indeed Fawke Common may be one of those areas of untraced land which Witney considered probably lay to the north of the Lowy. The droveway is still traceable throughout most of its length and has the beauty of these ancient routes. In Planes (Hanger) wood, TQ 5660 5540, as it drops down a southern slope, the banks are 30 or more feet high. They are covered with deciduous woodland, mainly beech, and the distant view comprises Bitchet Green, Fawke Common and Broadhoath.

1 Dr. G. Ward. Unpublished note in my possession.

2 The Kent Records. Medieval Kentish Society. KAS Vol. xvm. 1964. 'The Kent Lay Subsidy 1334/5'. p.141.

3 Prof. Alan Everitt 'Continuity & Colonisation' 1986 pp.210 and 215.

4. K. P. Witney 'The Jutish Forest' p. 38.

5. K. P. Witney 'The Jutish Forest' 1976 pp. 208 and 228.

6. V. M. Dubreck, 'The Lowy of Tonbridge' A.C. LXXII p. 142.

7. K. P. Witney 'The Jutish Forest' pp. 60/4.

8. Ibid. p.64 Ibid. p.122.

Ann Elton