William Lambarde's "Carde" of c1570 shows a beacon at Chatham and a total of 52 beacons in Kent. The beacon system dropped out of use after 1640. (1) Almost certainly refers to "Beacon Hill", an area now partly quarried and partly developed, situated on the south side of the Watling Sheet at TQ 775667. The precise location is unknown however. (2) The beacon is also shown on a map in the British Library entitled "Chart of the course of the River Medway from Rochester to The Nore" and dated to AD 1570 (though it may be slightly earlier).

<1> Arch. Cant.46, 1934, 91, 86 (H.T. White) (OS Card Reference). SKE37136.

<2> F1 CFW 05-NOV-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE42439.

<3> Field report for monument TQ 76 NE 54 - November, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4075.