Monument record TR 15 NW 1517 - Dane John Mound and Roman and medieval remains in Dane John Garden

Summary

Mound, probably Roman tumulus, and public gardens. The Dane John mound is the remains of a Norman motte and bailey castle centred on the Dane John mound. It is likely that the motte and bailey castle was constructed just after the Norman Conquest, c. 1066-70 and was subsequently abandoned at about the turn of the 11th-12th century in favour of the new stone-built Norman keep, the new Canterbury Castle. Summary from record TR 15 NW 51: High mound within the line of the city wall, perhaps of Roman origins, and reused as a castle motte. In more recent times the mound has been refashioned as a landscape feature. It has been suggested that its origins are a Romano-British burial mound of the 2nd Century but it is just within the line of the city walls. The mound appears to have been re-formed to create a motte which was the earliest castle site within Canterbury. The name Dane John appears to be a corruption of donjon. Archaeological excavations in 1981 produced evidence for the earthwork enclosure to the north and further work in 1989 suggested another bailey-like enclosure to the south outside the line of the city wall. The mound was raised in 1790 when Alderman James Simmons transformed it into a feature for a pleasure garden.

Location

Grid reference TR 1477 5736 (point)
Map sheet TR15NW
County KENT
District CANTERBURY, KENT
Civil Parish CANTERBURY, CANTERBURY, KENT

Map

Type and Period (4)

Full Description

Wilson, D., 1961, The King's School, Canterbury, Disc Brooch (Article in serial). SKE30376.

Andrews, G., 1985, The Archaeology of Canterbury: An Assessment (Unpublished document). SKE30429.

Jarman, C., 1999, The Dane John Mound (Article in serial). SKE30886.

<1> DOE (IAM) Rec Form 28 6 78 & map (OS Card Reference). SKE40717.

<1> Historic England, National Heritage List for England (Index). SKE29372.

<2> Victor Smith and Andrew Saunders, 2001, Kent's Defence Heritage (Unpublished document). SKE6956.

Sources/Archives (6)

  • --- Article in serial: Wilson, D.. 1961. The King's School, Canterbury, Disc Brooch.
  • --- Unpublished document: Andrews, G.. 1985. The Archaeology of Canterbury: An Assessment.
  • --- Article in serial: Jarman, C.. 1999. The Dane John Mound. Canterbury's Archaeology 1996-1997.
  • <1>XY Index: Historic England. National Heritage List for England. [Mapped feature: #91818 Mound, ]
  • <1> OS Card Reference: DOE (IAM) Rec Form 28 6 78 & map.
  • <2> Unpublished document: Victor Smith and Andrew Saunders. 2001. Kent's Defence Heritage.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (0)

Related Thematic Articles (2)

Record last edited

Apr 15 2024 11:43AM