[TQ 5034 5950] Crawford notes a modern boundary bank with ditch on west, facing uphill, but Stoyel mentioned a contemplated widening of the A.21 up Polhill as endagering much of "Danes Trench". "This fine earthwork, defensive in character but of unknown origin, follows the foot of the steep slope of Polhill to the east of the road for a distance of some six hundred yards". (1-2) A small bank and ditch, marking the limit of wood and cultivated land is traceable from the foot of Polhill at TQ 50405920 to a point at TQ 50485984 where it joins the deep hollow-way of Old Polhill. Any claim to its being defensive can be dismissed on both physical and tactical grounds. (3) TQ 50405920 - TQ 50485984. The linear earthwork known as Danes Trench was surveyed and excavated due to its possible destruction by the Swanley/M25 link road. The earliest literary evidence for the name has been traced back to 1406. Excavation showed that a steep-sided 'V' ditch had been cut into the natural chalk slope and that rubble had been piled on the lower slope to make a bank. A lack of material evidence makes the dating of this earthwork difficult. It seems probable that Danes Trench was a land boundary and that its function was to restrict access from the wooded hillside onto the pastoral lands of the river valley. (4)

<1> Rec. 6" (O.G.S. Crawford, 14.12.1937) (OS Card Reference). SKE49090.

<2> Arch. Cant. 73, 1959, 226 (A.D. Stoyel) (OS Card Reference). SKE37044.

<3> F1 CFW 10-AUG-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE42510.

<4> Arch Cant 94 1978 231-238 figs 1-3 (J A Pyke) (OS Card Reference). SKE36179.

<5> Field report for monument TQ 55 NW 23 - August, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE2813.