Page:VCH Kent 1.djvu/496

 A HISTORY OF KENT It occupies about ii acres of ground. . . . The inner earthwork is about 20 ft. high on the N.E. ; and 12 ft. on the N.W. ; but nearly effaced towards the south. The inner ditch is about 15 ft. wide.' This description and the plan by which it was accompanied give a good idea of the work, excepting that they suggest the existence of distinct raised ramparts with a fosse, whereas the defensive work con- sists mainly of double scarps of the sides of the steep hill, an upper scarp forming an almost perpendicular bank varying from 12 to 20 ft. in height. Here and there, however, are traces of a slight bank on the summit of both upper and lower scarps. General Pitt-Rivers considered the work to be a British oppidum (afterwards occupied by the Romans), and its bold position in what was then, and to some extent is now, a thickly wooded region confirms this view of its origin. It is unfortunate that on the south side where, the natural slope being least, most artificial work was needed, the lines of earthwork h^ve been much destroyed. An ancient trackway leads from the north to the little valley which separates the oppidum from the high ground on that side, and apparently continues on the east below the earthworks.' West Wickham : Camp. — On the top of the steep hill-side by which Wickham Common is approached from Hayes Railway Station, is all that remains of _ CAM P an earthwork of doubt- «^^^/'vV ful origin, oblong in -vl _ J^_ Jji X.-fJ^*'^'-* form and about 500 ft. /)^prox/'maAe sAe/-ch ^"^^ by 400 in size. 9Terrac6/troAa6/y njoe/er/i ^^ A simple fosse of ^ considerable propor- s.w. SECTO^f. WEST WICKHAM CAMP tions seems to have Camp, West Wickham. been the main element of defence, but on the western side, where it was cut on the steep slope, its outer scarp assumed the form of a rampart (see sketch), while elsewhere, on the level, no rampart remains, even on the inner margin of the fosse, where we should expect to find it. The western side, which exhibits the best sections of the work, has been mutilated by a great gravel pit.^ From the south-west angle the Hne passes eastward on level ground, and here we now find but the fosse ; this continues along the south side, then turns northward to form the eastern defence, but soon disappears, nor can its traces with « Arch. Cant. (1886) xvi. = Colonel Warde, to whose courtesy the writer was indebted for the opportunity to examine the oppidum, says : ' The trackway has always been called the Roman Road, and the land close by is known as Crockham Street.' Of course, though doubtless used by the Romans, the trackway may be of earlier date. ' As the Corporation of London are now the owners and the land is public, no such mutilation will again occur. 402