Gravel Castle

Has been described as a Rejected Timber Castle (Motte)

There are no visible remains

NameGravel Castle
Alternative Names
Historic CountryKent
Modern AuthorityKent
1974 AuthorityKent
Civil ParishBarham

Shown as castle on OS map but no evidence obvious on extensively ploughed ground. (Guy 1980)

Gatehouse Comments

I can't find any feature at this reference on the 1877 6" OS map, other than the Gravel Castle place-name (i.e. Not marked as an antiquity nor closely placed), which seems to refer to a hamlet SE of Barham Church. There are a considerable number of barrows in the area but no record of such a feature in PastScape for this location. Nothing in Hasted, Edward, 1800 (2edn), A History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent Vol. 9 record for Barham Parish reads like this and the site can not be identified with the several manors in the parish. The question of the origin of the place-name remains unanswered. If originally a barrow why should this particular barrow be called 'castle' when others nearby are not. There are Roman finds in the area but no evidence of a Roman fort here. However, the site is not far from the church and this appears to have been an important area for the early Anglo-Saxons so some status may have remained for the area. Map reference for crossroads at centre of hamlet.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceTR212497
Latitude51.2041893005371
Longitude1.16597998142242
Eastings621250
Northings149760
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Books

  • Guy, John, 1980, Kent Castles (Meresborough Books)