[TQ 86906484] Keycol Hill has been thought to be the site of a defended Roman Station. From the description given by Hasted [auth. (2)] it is evident that traces of a defensive work then existed but little or nothing can now be followed with certainty. The position (on 200' contour) is a suitable one for a defensive work and a considerable stretch of the Roman road would have been under observation. (1) A little to the S.W. of the Roman cemetery [TQ 86 SE 1] "in the adjoining field, there is a large mount of earth thrown up, having a very broad and deep fosse on the south and west sides of it, whence there seems to be a breast-work of earth thrown up, which extends in a line westward about 40 rods, and thence in like manner again northward, making the south and western boundaries of the two fields next below Crockfield.... The greatest part of the northern sides of these fields.... are adjoining to the woods, in which there are many remains of trenches and breast-works thrown up" but the coppice is so thick that they cannot be described. (2) Mr. Roach Smith sent me an extract from his notebook, "On Keycol Hill, apparently foundations"; as they were observed c.1854 they cannot now be traced. From the very close examination to which I have subjected this area, especially during the grubbing up of the woods, I have been forced to the conclusion that there was nothing of importance at Keycol Hill. (3) Keycol Hill is covered by long established orchards: there is nothing to be seen of the earthworks noted by Hasted. (4)

<1> VCH Kent 1 1908 400 (IC Gould) (a) EA Downman (OS Card Reference). SKE50883.

<2> Hist of Kent 1782 561 (E Hasted) (OS Card Reference). SKE43939.

<3> Coll Cant 1893 58-9 (G Payne) (OS Card Reference). SKE39150.

<4> F1 CFW 04-JUL-63 (OS Card Reference). SKE42420.

<5> Field report for monument TQ 86 SE 2 - July, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4588.