Monument record TQ 77 SW 1174 - Cropmark of an undated ditch, Higham

The cropmarks of a ditch of an uncertain date, which in plan follows a crenulated pattern, can be seen on aerial photographs taken in 2004. This ditch runs along the hill to the east of Higham and can be seen for 193m to the west of Mill House between TQ 7215 7168 and TQ 7196 7164. The individual elements of the ditch (which is circa 2m wide) are not completely straight, the corners are rounded and the changes in direction do not follow right angles. The crenulated pattern consists of two northerly projections which are circa 31m wide and these join the central southern ditch. The cropmark of this can be seen for 57m but may have been up to circa 62m long (that is double the northern projections). The cropmarks of narrower ditches including an intermittent ditch to the east but also running parallel to the main ditch can also be seen. The regularity of this feature indicates that it was laid out and it was possibly associated with the house called Great Hermitage (demolished) which was a little over 100m to the south. This feature was mapped from aerial photographs as part of the English Heritage: Hoo Peninsula Landscape Project. (1)

<1> 2004, NMR TQ 7171/14 (NMR 23575/23) 28-JUN-2004 (Photograph). SKE58953.