TQ 76 SW 4 - Kit's Coty House, Aylesford - Historic Environment Record

It should not be assumed that this site is publicly accessible and it may be on private property. Do not trespass.

Monument record TQ 76 SW 4 - Kit's Coty House, Aylesford

Summary

The remains of a Neolithic chambered tomb, known as Kit's Coty House. The visible remains comprise of three large sarsen uprights arranged in an H-plan, topped by a substantial capstone. This structure stands at the south-eastern end of a mound orientated southeast-northwest and now most clearly visible on air photographs due to prolonged erosion by ploughing. The tallest of the upright stones stands circa 2.5 metres above the ground, and the capstone measures circa 4 metres by 2.7 metres. An Ordnance Survey field investigation in 1959 recorded the mound as being of elongated oval plan and measuring circa 80 metres long and up to 33 metres across, with an average height of circa 0.7 metres. The flanking ditches can be seen on air photographs as cropmarks. Minor excavation in the late 18th century proved fruitless. Trial trenching of the mound in 1956 confirmed suspicions that the mound had been revetted or enclosed by a sarsen kerb. While much of the original form of the monument is speculative, even less is known of the contents, as the chamber has been open since at least the late 16th century. There are vague mentions of "rude pottery" and some worn sherds said to be Neolithic or Beaker were found in the surrounding plough soil in the 1930s. A large sarsen recorded nearby by William Stukeley in the 1720s, and known as The General's Tombstone, may have derived from Kit's Coty House. The chamber (but not the mound) was one of the first Scheduled Ancient Monuments and the iron railings surrounding it (which were erected at the insistence of Lt General Pitt Rivers) are testament to early ideas about protecting such sites.

Location

Grid reference	Centred TQ 7448 6085 (123m by 100m) FCE
Map sheet	TQ76SW
County	KENT
District	TONBRIDGE AND MALLING, KENT
Civil Parish	AYLESFORD, TONBRIDGE AND MALLING, KENT

Map

Find a placename, postcode or grid reference

Map layers

Base layers

Info

Record list

Tools

Type and Period (2)

Full Description

?18TH CENT DRAWING/ENGRAVING OF 'KIT'S COITY HOUSE' Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW (Photograph). SKE129.

ENGRAVING FOR 'THE ANTIQUARIAN AND TOPOGRAPHICAL CABINET' 1812 Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW (Photograph). SKE500.

KET'S COITY HOUSE,ENGRAVING PUBLISHED BY ALEXANDER HOGG Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW (Photograph). SKE213.

Ordnance Survey: Portfolios (Collection). SKE6541.

PRINTED REVERSED - TAKEN FROM THE BACK Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW (Photograph). SKE127.

PROBABLE MEGALITHIC STRUCTURE AT WEST END - NOT REMAINING Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW (Photograph). SKE114.

VARIOUS VERSIONS OF NAME - NONE REVEAL ORIGIN Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW (Photograph). SKE111.

VARIOUS VERSIONS OF NAME - NONE REVEAL ORIGIN Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW (Photograph). SKE112.

VARIOUS VERSIONS OF NAME - NONE REVEAL ORIGIN Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW (Photograph). SKE113.

VIEW Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW (Photograph). SKE126.

VIEW Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW (Photograph). SKE130.

VIEW Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW (Photograph). SKE222.

VIEW Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW (Photograph). SKE223.

VIEW Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW (Photograph). SKE178.

VIEW Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW (Photograph). SKE212.

VIEW Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW (Photograph). SKE502.

VIEW Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW (Photograph). SKE503.

VIEW Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW (Photograph). SKE504.

VIEW Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW (Photograph). SKE505.

VIEW Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW (Photograph). SKE506.

VIEW Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW (Photograph). SKE501.

VIEW WITH RAILINGS Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW (Photograph). SKE175.

VIEW WITH RAILINGS Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW (Photograph). SKE176.

VIEW WITH RAILINGS Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW (Photograph). SKE177.

<1> OS 6" 1910 (OS Card Reference). SKE48325.

<2> OS 6" 1939 (OS Card Reference). SKE48359.

<3> Arch Cant Vol 65 1952 p.106-113 (J H Evans) (OS Card Reference). SKE36426.

<4> Dr Stukeley's Diaries Surtees Soc p.76 226 (OS Card Reference). SKE41511.

<5> Nenia Britannica 1793 p.181 (OS Card Reference). SKE47528.

<6> Iter Cur 2nd edn 1776 Platch (OS Card Reference). SKE44786.

<7> Arch Cant Vol 63 1950 p.63 ff (J H Evans) (OS Card Reference). SKE36417.

<8> VCH Kent Vol 1 1906 p.318 illus (OS Card Reference). SKE51188.

<9> Beake-Poste MSS (Maidstone Museum) Vol 3 Sect p.3 77-83 (OS Card Reference). SKE37605.

<10> Arch Cant Vol 62 1949 p.133-4 (J H Evans) (OS Card Reference). SKE36413.

<11> OS Prof Paper NS no 8 1924 (O G S Crawford) (OS Card Reference). SKE48426.

<12> Arch Cant Vol 70 1956 p.250 ff (A McCreirie) (OS Card Reference). SKE36433.

<13> Wanderings of an Antiquary 1854 p.193 (T Wright) (OS Card Reference). SKE51272.

<14> Prehistoric Chamber Tombs of England and Wales 1950 p.234 (G E Daniel) (OS Card Reference). SKE48652.

<15> MOW nameplate (OS Card Reference). SKE47358.

<16> F1 AC 14-JUL-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE41801.

<17> F2 ASP 20-OCT-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE43140.

<18> Philp, B, 1981, A survey of the Medway megaliths, KAR 64: 87 (Article in serial). SKE24000.

<18> Philp, B. and Dutto, M., 2005, The Medway Megaliths: An illustrated guide to the famous Neolithic chambered long-barrows of the Medway area (Monograph). SKE23999.

<19> Arch Cant 97 1984 232 illus (R Holgate) (OS Card Reference). SKE36304.

<20> Antiquity 55 1981 51-53 illus (P Saunders) (OS Card Reference). SKE33296.

<21> The Buildings of Engalnd West Kent and the Weald 1980 141 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE50164.

<22> Arch J 126 1969 240 (E Warman) (OS Card Reference). SKE36548.

<23> Field report for monument TQ 76 SW 4 - July, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4162.

<24> Field report for monument TQ 76 SW 4 - October, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4163.

<25> "KITS COTY" (Collection). SKE6554.

<26> English Heritage, Register of Scheduled Monuments (Scheduling record). SKE16191.

<27> Institute of Archaeology & Antiquity, Birmingham University, 2009, Kit's Coty House and Little Kit's Coty House, Kent: Geophysical Survey, 2009 (Unpublished document). SKE16366.

<28> Historic England, Archive material associated with Kits Coty House Scheduled Monument (Archive). SKE54073.

Sources/Archives (77)

--- SKE111 Photograph: VARIOUS VERSIONS OF NAME - NONE REVEAL ORIGIN Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW. AA69/01610. Black and White. Negative.
--- SKE111 Photograph: VARIOUS VERSIONS OF NAME - NONE REVEAL ORIGIN Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW. AA69/01610. Black and White. Negative.
--- SKE112 Photograph: VARIOUS VERSIONS OF NAME - NONE REVEAL ORIGIN Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW. AA69/01611. Black and White. Negative.
--- SKE112 Photograph: VARIOUS VERSIONS OF NAME - NONE REVEAL ORIGIN Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW. AA69/01611. Black and White. Negative.
--- SKE113 Photograph: VARIOUS VERSIONS OF NAME - NONE REVEAL ORIGIN Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW. AA69/01612. Black and White. Negative.
--- SKE113 Photograph: VARIOUS VERSIONS OF NAME - NONE REVEAL ORIGIN Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW. AA69/01612. Black and White. Negative.
--- SKE114 Photograph: PROBABLE MEGALITHIC STRUCTURE AT WEST END - NOT REMAINING Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW. AA69/01613. Black and White. Negative.
--- SKE114 Photograph: PROBABLE MEGALITHIC STRUCTURE AT WEST END - NOT REMAINING Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW. AA69/01613. Black and White. Negative.
--- SKE126 Photograph: VIEW Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW. AA71/05698. Black and White. Negative.
--- SKE126 Photograph: VIEW Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW. AA71/05698. Black and White. Negative.
--- SKE127 Photograph: PRINTED REVERSED - TAKEN FROM THE BACK Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW. AA71/05699. Black and White. Negative.
--- SKE127 Photograph: PRINTED REVERSED - TAKEN FROM THE BACK Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW. AA71/05699. Black and White. Negative.
--- SKE129 Photograph: ?18TH CENT DRAWING/ENGRAVING OF 'KIT'S COITY HOUSE' Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW. AA71/05905. Black and White. Negative.
--- SKE129 Photograph: ?18TH CENT DRAWING/ENGRAVING OF 'KIT'S COITY HOUSE' Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW. AA71/05905. Black and White. Negative.
--- SKE130 Photograph: VIEW Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW. AA71/05920. Black and White. Negative.
--- SKE130 Photograph: VIEW Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW. AA71/05920. Black and White. Negative.
--- SKE175 Photograph: VIEW WITH RAILINGS Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW. AA77/05028. Black and White. Negative.
--- SKE175 Photograph: VIEW WITH RAILINGS Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW. AA77/05028. Black and White. Negative.
--- SKE176 Photograph: VIEW WITH RAILINGS Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW. AA77/05029. Black and White. Negative.
--- SKE176 Photograph: VIEW WITH RAILINGS Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW. AA77/05029. Black and White. Negative.
--- SKE177 Photograph: VIEW WITH RAILINGS Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW. AA77/05030. Black and White. Negative.
--- SKE177 Photograph: VIEW WITH RAILINGS Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW. AA77/05030. Black and White. Negative.
--- SKE178 Photograph: VIEW Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW. AA81/01111. Black and White. Negative.
--- SKE178 Photograph: VIEW Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW. AA81/01111. Black and White. Negative.
--- SKE212 Photograph: VIEW Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW. BB46/03016. Black and White. Negative.
--- SKE212 Photograph: VIEW Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW. BB46/03016. Black and White. Negative.
--- SKE213 Photograph: KET'S COITY HOUSE,ENGRAVING PUBLISHED BY ALEXANDER HOGG Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW. BB58/00317. Black and White. Negative.
--- SKE213 Photograph: KET'S COITY HOUSE,ENGRAVING PUBLISHED BY ALEXANDER HOGG Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW. BB58/00317. Black and White. Negative.
--- SKE222 Photograph: VIEW Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW. BB67/08165. Black and White. Negative.
--- SKE222 Photograph: VIEW Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW. BB67/08165. Black and White. Negative.
--- SKE223 Photograph: VIEW Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW. BB67/08166. Black and White. Negative.
--- SKE223 Photograph: VIEW Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW. BB67/08166. Black and White. Negative.
--- SKE500 Photograph: ENGRAVING FOR 'THE ANTIQUARIAN AND TOPOGRAPHICAL CABINET' 1812 Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW. P29041. Black and White. Print.
--- SKE500 Photograph: ENGRAVING FOR 'THE ANTIQUARIAN AND TOPOGRAPHICAL CABINET' 1812 Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW. P29041. Black and White. Print.
--- SKE501 Photograph: VIEW Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW. P29042. Black and White. Print.
--- SKE501 Photograph: VIEW Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW. P29042. Black and White. Print.
--- SKE502 Photograph: VIEW Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW. P29043. Black and White. Print.
--- SKE502 Photograph: VIEW Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW. P29043. Black and White. Print.
--- SKE503 Photograph: VIEW Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW. P29044. Black and White. Print.
--- SKE503 Photograph: VIEW Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW. P29044. Black and White. Print.
--- SKE504 Photograph: VIEW Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW. P29045. Black and White. Print.
--- SKE504 Photograph: VIEW Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW. P29045. Black and White. Print.
--- SKE505 Photograph: VIEW Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW. P29046. Black and White. Print.
--- SKE505 Photograph: VIEW Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW. P29046. Black and White. Print.
--- SKE506 Photograph: VIEW Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW. P29047. Black and White. Print.
--- SKE506 Photograph: VIEW Types: CHAMBERED LONG BARROW. P29047. Black and White. Print.
--- SKE6541 Collection: Ordnance Survey: Portfolios.
--- SKE6541 Collection: Ordnance Survey: Portfolios.
<1> SKE48325 OS Card Reference: OS 6" 1910.
<2> SKE48359 OS Card Reference: OS 6" 1939.
<3> SKE36426 OS Card Reference: Arch Cant Vol 65 1952 p.106-113 (J H Evans).
<4> SKE41511 OS Card Reference: Dr Stukeley's Diaries Surtees Soc p.76 226.
<5> SKE47528 OS Card Reference: Nenia Britannica 1793 p.181.
<6> SKE44786 OS Card Reference: Iter Cur 2nd edn 1776 Platch.
<7> SKE36417 OS Card Reference: Arch Cant Vol 63 1950 p.63 ff (J H Evans).
<8> SKE51188 OS Card Reference: VCH Kent Vol 1 1906 p.318 illus.
<9> SKE37605 OS Card Reference: Beake-Poste MSS (Maidstone Museum) Vol 3 Sect p.3 77-83.
<10> SKE36413 OS Card Reference: Arch Cant Vol 62 1949 p.133-4 (J H Evans).
<11> SKE48426 OS Card Reference: OS Prof Paper NS no 8 1924 (O G S Crawford).
<12> SKE36433 OS Card Reference: Arch Cant Vol 70 1956 p.250 ff (A McCreirie).
<13> SKE51272 OS Card Reference: Wanderings of an Antiquary 1854 p.193 (T Wright).
<14> SKE48652 OS Card Reference: Prehistoric Chamber Tombs of England and Wales 1950 p.234 (G E Daniel).
<15> SKE47358 OS Card Reference: MOW nameplate.
<16> SKE41801 OS Card Reference: F1 AC 14-JUL-59.
<17> SKE43140 OS Card Reference: F2 ASP 20-OCT-64.
<18> SKE23999 Monograph: Philp, B. and Dutto, M.. 2005. The Medway Megaliths: An illustrated guide to the famous Neolithic chambered long-barrows of the Medway area.
<18> SKE24000 Article in serial: Philp, B. 1981. A survey of the Medway megaliths. KAR 64: 77-92. KAR 64: 87.
<19> SKE36304 OS Card Reference: Arch Cant 97 1984 232 illus (R Holgate).
<20> SKE33296 OS Card Reference: Antiquity 55 1981 51-53 illus (P Saunders).
<21> SKE50164 OS Card Reference: The Buildings of Engalnd West Kent and the Weald 1980 141 (J Newman).
<22> SKE36548 OS Card Reference: Arch J 126 1969 240 (E Warman).
<23> SKE4162 Bibliographic reference: Field report for monument TQ 76 SW 4 - July, 1959.
<24> SKE4163 Bibliographic reference: Field report for monument TQ 76 SW 4 - October, 1964.
<25> SKE6554 Collection: "KITS COTY".
<26>XY SKE16191 Scheduling record: English Heritage. Register of Scheduled Monuments. [Mapped feature: #327 Kits Coty House, ]
<27> SKE16366 Unpublished document: Institute of Archaeology & Antiquity, Birmingham University. 2009. Kit's Coty House and Little Kit's Coty House, Kent: Geophysical Survey, 2009.
<28> SKE54073 Archive: Historic England. Archive material associated with Kits Coty House Scheduled Monument.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

Scheduled Monument 1012939: KIT'S COTY HOUSE LONG BARROW

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (4)

Non-Intrusive Event: Geophysical survey at Kit's Coty House and Little Kit's Coty House (Ref: PN 1964) (EKE10641)
Intrusive Event: KITS COTY HOUSE, 1790-1799 (Ref: EI 15239) (EKE4152)
Intrusive Event: KITS COTY HOUSE, 1956 (Ref: EI 15240) (EKE4153)
Non-Intrusive Event: Survey of Kit's Coty House (EKE12809)

Record last edited

Aug 2 2021 6:29PM