Monument record MKE127500 - Post-medieval pond, Rough Park, Frinsted, Maidstone

Dew pond (or sole pond), visible on 1st and 2nd edition OS map. Recorded during 2024 Kent Downs National Landscape Historic Ponds project.
Preservation:Pond now faintly visible on current OS/LIDAR
Pond shape:Rectangular
Site type: Dew pond (or sole pond)
Description: Rectangular pond along a field boundary to the west of Torry Hill Farm. Seen on 1st and 2nd edition OS and modern OS, but aerial view doesn't show an obvious pond.
Recorded date: 02/12/2024 (1)

Investigations were carried out at the site in 2025 comprising a desk-based assessment, field visit, and a hand auger survey. The feature is visible on the 1876 OS map as a rectangular pond measuring around 18m by 9m. A site visit identified an unrelated raised linear bank tentatively interpreted (2) as a formed headland associated with ploughing taking place at the site prior to the parkland being established.
On site investigations indicated that there was no discernible feed for the pond and no pond sediments were identified during augering, suggesting the feature could result from the seasonal pooling of water rather than representing a managed feature in the landscape. (2)

<1> Kent Downs AONB Unit, 2025, Historic Ponds Project dataset (Digital archive). SKE58454.

<2> Wessex Archaeology, 2025, (Draft) North Downs Heritage Ponds Project Phase 1 Report (Unpublished document). SKE58669.