Page:VCH Kent 1.djvu/512

 ^^ E A HISTORY OF KENT eastern ravine but about 50 ft. from the edge, allowing room for the road of approach to the whole of the stronghold. From this bank another bank or rampart with a ditch on the south side runs along the edge of the natural chalk escarpment in a good defensive position, commanding the slopes and following the sinuosities of the ground, rounding Sugar-loaf Hill and extending perhaps originally as far as the chalk cliffs on the sea coast, a distance of about two miles. Although the relics found during the excavations (with the excep- tions already mentioned) pertain to about the Norman period or later, some on the natural surface on which the ramparts were reared, it is not possible to fix the precise date of this fortress. It may have been made in the time of Soo' '"•''. Edward the Confessor, "(^'>.,_ or may date from later days, even to the time of Stephen, one of whose coins was found. When we read that fosse was found over 8 ft. below its present level, we can form some idea of the extent of denudation of the ramparts and con- sequent filling up of the ditches which have taken place during long cen- turies of exposure to wind and weather, and perhaps picture the great strength of this fortress when constructed, bear- ing in mind that, in ad- dition to deep fosses and huge ramparts, palisades of sturdy timber aided its defence against the foe. Leybourne Castle. — The castle is situated on land about 80 ft. above sea-level. The position has no natural defence except on the east-south- east, where the hill has been scarped. The en- trenchments are not in a perfect state of preservation, and probably belong to a work earlier than the present ruinous masonry. They appear to 418 + Church ""MUVVV-^" SCALE OF FEET. O 100 Zoo 30O Leybourne Castle.
 * the original base of a