Monument record TQ 67 SW 1 - Clabberlabber/clapper-napper's hole

Summary

Collapsed cave (not an antiquity). A small quarry-like feature on the east side of Swanscombe Wood. The origin of the name is unclear, although connections with robbers and rabbits (separately) have been mentioned. On the 1909 Ordnance Survey 6" map the site appeared as "Caerberlarber (British Village)". This was quickly recognised as a piece of fiction, though the source for it is unknown. Ordnance Survey field investigation in 1964 noted that, like it's history, the site is partly filled with rubbish. Location accurate to 10m based on available information

Location

Grid reference TQ 6054 7280 (point) Estimated from sources
Map sheet TQ67SW
County KENT
District DARTFORD, KENT
Civil Parish SWANSCOMBE AND GREENHITHE, DARTFORD, KENT

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Type and Period (1)

Full Description

[TQ.60547281] Site of Caerberlarber [OE] (British Village) (1) Clabberlabber's Hole (TI) (2) Site of Caerberlarber (British Village). This name is a fiction. It is simply an attempt to give a 'celtic' appearance to 'Clabberlabber', and it does not occur in ancient documents - omit from next revision. (3) The well-known Clapper-napper's hole is partly fallen in. It is on the east side of Swanscombe Wood. The cave is now outside the wood(a). It was once supposed to communicate with another four miles distant. The name clapper-napper is hard to explain. Napper, or nabber, is a robber; and a robber is mentioned as occupying it(b), though the tradition seems very old... A clapper or coney-clapper is the 16th c. word for a rabbit burrow(c) (4) Clabberlabber's Hole is a small quarry-like feature heavily overgrown and partly filled with rubbish. (5) No change. (6)

Location accurate to 10m based on available information


<1> O.S.6" 1909 (OS Card Reference). SKE47844.

<2> O.S.6" 1938 (OS Card Reference). SKE47846.

<3> Rev. O.N.B. 1938. p.38 (O.G.S. Crawford Udtd) (OS Card Reference). SKE49220.

<4> Gent's Mag. May 1803 (OS Card Reference). SKE43604.

<5> Journey etc., p.32(L.Fussell) (OS Card Reference). SKE45029.

<6> Prof. W. W. Skeat (OS Card Reference). SKE48738.

<7> Arch.1 vol.38. 1881. p.399 (F.C.J. Spurrell) (OS Card Reference). SKE37173.

<8> RCHME Recorder A.Clarke 22-SEP-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE49004.

<9> F1 ASP 10-NOV-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE42036.

<10> Field report for monument TQ 67 SW 1 - November, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3627.

Sources/Archives (10)

  • <1> OS Card Reference: O.S.6" 1909.
  • <2> OS Card Reference: O.S.6" 1938.
  • <3> OS Card Reference: Rev. O.N.B. 1938. p.38 (O.G.S. Crawford Udtd).
  • <4> OS Card Reference: Gent's Mag. May 1803.
  • <5> OS Card Reference: Journey etc., p.32(L.Fussell).
  • <6> OS Card Reference: Prof. W. W. Skeat.
  • <7> OS Card Reference: Arch.1 vol.38. 1881. p.399 (F.C.J. Spurrell).
  • <8> OS Card Reference: RCHME Recorder A.Clarke 22-SEP-59.
  • <9> OS Card Reference: F1 ASP 10-NOV-64.
  • <10>XY Bibliographic reference: Field report for monument TQ 67 SW 1 - November, 1964. [Mapped feature: #16761 quarry, ]

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Related Events/Activities (1)

  • Intrusive Event: Geotechnical Investigations at East of Lowfield Street, Dartford (Ref: D105702) (EWX9104)

Record last edited

Aug 21 2024 8:54AM