Tumuli and pits in Westwood, Lyminge. (For the tumuli see TR 14 SW 7)Early iron clinkers have been found, notably at Stowting Roughs, and a charter of Oswin in 689 speaks of an iron mine in Lyminge. "Perhapsthe mine alluded to was at Westwood in Lyminge, in the clay-with- flints, where there are abundant traces of its manufacture." (1) The pits referred to by Spurrell are mine-pits for the extraction of iron-ore from the Lenham Beds. Evidence of early iron-working in the area is given in a Lyminge charter of 689(a) and confirmed by the discovery of a bloomery near Abbots Wood (TR 14 NE 4). The pits, which vary in size, cover an area of some 40 acres; they arebest preserved in the area centred TR 134 430. (2) The area surrounding three probable bowl barrows at TR 1385 4274 (TR 14 SW 7) is littered with what appear to be medieval iron-digging pits. (3) [TR 134 430] Lyminge - appears in a checklist of all known Wealden bloomery sites. The earliest mention of iron working in the Weald is in a charter of 689 when Oswy, King of Kent granted an iron mine at Lyminge to the Abbot of St. Peter's, Canterbury. Although sparse ores do occur in the Greensand in the Lyminge area, the grant might well relate to dependent lands on the Weald clays. (4)

<1> Arch J 40 1883 292 fn (F Spurrell) (OS Card Reference). SKE36630.

<2> Cartularium Saxonicum I 1885 107 no 73 (W de G Birch) (OS Card Reference). SKE38601.

<3> F1 CFW 03-MAY-63 (OS Card Reference). SKE42404.

<4> Arch Cant 85 1970 178-9 (J Bradshaw) (OS Card Reference). SKE35801.

<5> Iron Indust of the Weald 1985 87 292 (C Cleere and D Crossley) (OS Card Reference). SKE44519.

<6> Field report for monument TR 14 SW 19 - May, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE5461.