A beacon is shown on William Lambarde's "Carde" of c. 1570 which shows 52 beacons in Kent, at "Leysdon" on Sheppey (see Illustration Card) (1). It is also portrayed on a map of c. 1572 on a mound or hillock immediately to the east of the church [TR 07 SW 2] (2). The beacon system dropped out of use after 1640. (1,2) The hillock shown appears to be that centred TR 032702, a site now occupied by a holiday camp. None of the local names contains a "beacon" element. (3)

<1> Arch Cant 46 1934 plate facing 77 (OS Card Reference). SKE35206.

<2> Map of Sheppey c 1572 scale about 3" to 1 mile (OS Card Reference). SKE46535.

<3> F1 CFW 22-FEB-65 (OS Card Reference). SKE42702.

<4> Field report for monument TR 07 SW 6 - February, 1965 (Bibliographic reference). SKE5315.