A possible boundary feature comprising a central bank (now plough levelled) with a ditch on either side, along with a much shorter section of bank to the north of the ditch. It is located on the headland at North Foreland and possibly dates from the Bronze Age to Iron Age periods and may still exist since the land use has not changed since at least 1983.

The bank and multiple ditch feature is visible and was mapped from modern aerial photographs taken in April 1983 in which they were visible as crop marks [1], and is possibly associated with other crop mark features in the proximity (MWX43023 and Mke9115).

It extends perpendicular from the cliff edge running in a sinuous manner approximately 360m west. At its western extent there is a cluster of sub-circular cut features (probable pits), possibly related (MWX43023). This feature may also be associated with another pit further south, visible as a crop mark (MKE9115).

A transcription of the features recorded from aerial photography exists within a GIS layer held by this HER. (1)

These features were reviewed and re-mapped during the Historic England Isle of Thanet Project (2024). Linear earthworks of parallel ditches and, in some places, banks were visible as cropmarks extending from the cliff edge to the south-west of Joss Gap at roughly the 10m contour above Ordnance Datum. The linear earthwork followed the 20m contour to the west for about 345m before turning south. It then ran along the west-facing slope of North Foreland for about 550m, gently rising from the 20m contour to about the 35m contour. Following a sharp kink to the east in the environs of two round barrows (visible as cropmarks), the linear earthwork continued south for another 100m. It was not visible on the available aerial sources beyond the land now occupied by Broadhall Manor.

It is likely that the sharp kink mentioned above was in response to a pre-existing feature in the landscape, possibly one or more other round barrows. The linear earthwork may have continued to the coast at Stone Gap, thereby fully enclosing North Foreland. Moody (2008) proposes that the linear earthwork represents a holloway but excavation identified possible post holes in a ditch fill of the feature, suggesting that part at least had been palisaded (Hogwood 1995). The linear earthwork is clearly considerably truncated by cultivation and on balance is though to have formed a later prehistoric defensive feature to North Foreland. It was mapped from multiple aerial sources as part of the Historic England Isle of Thanet project in 2024. (2-10)

<2> Historic England Archive, 1920-2024, Historic England Archive Specialist oblique aerial photographs, NMR 2134/1121 26-APR-1983 (Archive). SKE57106.

<3> Historic England Archive, 1920-2024, Historic England Archive Specialist oblique aerial photographs, NMR 2663/168 25-APR-1986 (Archive). SKE57106.

<4> Historic England Archive, 1920-2024, Historic England Archive Specialist oblique aerial photographs, NMR 2134/1118 26-APR-1983 (Archive). SKE57106.

<5> Historic England Archive, 1955-1983, Historic England Archive Meridian Airmaps vertical aerial photographs, MAL/79021 V 111 25-JUN-1979 (Archive). SKE57104.

<6> Historic England Archive, 1941-1960, Historic England Archive RAF vertical aerial photographs, RAF/HLA/540 RV 6035 17-MAY-1942 (Archive). SKE57101.

<7> Historic England Archive, 1920-2024, Historic England Archive Specialist oblique aerial photographs, NMR 2107/0081 09-MAR-1982 (Archive). SKE57106.

<8> Historic England Archive, 1920-2024, Historic England Archive Specialist oblique aerial photographs, NMR 2134/1117 26-APR-1983 (Archive). SKE57106.

<9> Historic England Archive, 1941-1960, Historic England Archive RAF vertical aerial photographs, RAF/541/508 RS 4005 22-APR-1950 (Archive). SKE57101.

<10> Historic England Archive, 1920-2024, Historic England Archive Specialist oblique aerial photographs, NMR 3120/1041 06-AUG-1986 (Archive). SKE57106.