Monument record TQ 92 NE 177 - Curvilinear bank, Court Lodge Road, Appledore

The curvilinear feature is clearly visible on LiDAR imagery of the area, curving towards the north in a generally smooth arc. The feature may also continue west of the PDA, in line with landform of the promontory. A walkover survey of the site was undertaken in 2017, and although there was a considerable amount of grond foliage obscuring parts of the embankment, the trees planted along it were observed to be c. 150 years old. 'The curvilinear bank could form part of the Victorian and later landscaping of the gardens, but could equally be a potentially much older feature that has been incorporated into later gardens', especially given the location on an ancient promontory. (1)

Later archaeological work carried out in 2017 identified the bank as being of medieval origin. It consisted of a bank and two flanking ditches and was probably related to the construction of what is now Court Lodge in the late 14th century . Further west a slight feature was found in trench 6 that might relate to an earlier field system on site perhaps being related to a ditch in trench 3.(2)

The feature was also identified during a 2018 evaluation carried out to the south west. A single ditch was located to the east site of the enclosure, however, there was no evidence for the in situ bank, probably as a result of erosion. (3)

<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2017, Court Lodge Road, Appledore, TN26 2DD, Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment Report (Unpublished document). SKE53535.

<2> Canterbury Archaeological Trust Ltd, 2018, Land adjacent 4 Court Lodge Road, Appledore, Kent, TN26 2DD, Evaluation report (Unpublished document). SKE52864.

<3> Canterbury Archaeological Trust Ltd, 2018, Land at 10 Court Lodge Road, Appledore, Kent TN26 2DD, Evaluation Report (Unpublished document). SKE52769.