Monument record TQ 77 NE 1388 - ?Post-medieval industrial site, High Halstow

The earthwork remains of a possible post medieval industrial site on the north western edge of High Halstow, possibly associated with brick making can be seen on aerial photographs taken in 1953. A large area of slumped earth covers the slope to the northwest of High Halstow church. Features within this slumping are towards to the top of the slope and include two rectangular pits approximately 11m by 9m. These are positioned at TQ 7785 7534 and circa 40m to the north east at TQ 7789 7538. The north eastern pit is connected to the village via a hollow way. Further upslope between this pit and the village are two groups of small circular pits circa 1.8m in diameter; a line of two at TQ 7790 7537 and a line of three parallel to the first at TQ 7781 7535. traces of other hollow ways may be asociated with this site. The slumping is earlier that the field arrangement depicted on the 1895 Ordnance Survey map and part of it has been ploughed and is cover with narrow post-medieval ridge and furrow at TQ 7796 7548. These remains may have been associated with the 19th century brick and tile works situated to the south west of High Halstow (centred on TQ 7759 7523) or its predecessor. It was mapped from aerial photographs as part of the English Heritage: Hoo Peninsula Landscape Project.(1-3)

<1> RAF, 1953, RAF 82/732 34-35 23-FEB-1953 (Photograph). SKE58886.

<2> RAF, 1947, RAF CPE/UK 1932 3052-3053 16-JAN-1947 (Photograph). SKE58887.

<3> 1895, Kent 1:2500 1895 (Map). SKE58884.