ANCIENT EARTHWORKS erected, but probably the open moat completely surrounded the original work. The partial destruction of the moating in other portions of its circuit may to some extent be due to natural silting, but mainly to artificial filling with earth in modern times to prevent the flow of water from a stream which contributed largely to the original defences. The stream, a tributary of the Medway, which it joins under the castle walls, was tapped on the north-west of the work to flow round the courts, and to supply the moat of the high mount with water. On the south-east of the mount is the base-court or bailey, second in importance to the keep mount, which is protected on the south by a high wall of stone ' with an inner bank of earth, and has on the east and north a fosse or moat with an inner rampart of earth, on the summit of which stood a stone wall connected with that on the south, but here probably, as on the mount, the first defences were of timber. The moat of this court was carried in a wide sweep to the north-west, thus forming a second court as shown on the plan ; though now much destroyed the course of the moat is evident, but its rampart of earth or stone has almost disappeared, excepting at the castle gate. The western side of this second court was protected by the stream. The land at A on plan would be under water in early days, and it is not unlikely that a water-gate existed where the banking of the stream so nearly touches the counter-scarp of the moat appertaining to the mount. The castle and its precincts being in possession of the urban authorities are well known to visitors, but few are aware that portions of outworks, forming the ancient town-wall, exist, and that the course can be traced throughout (see plan). These works on the north and east, combining with water defence on the south and west, form a roughly semicircular enclosure sufficiently similar to some promontory camps to raise the question whether it also is not the work of pre-Roman Britons, but having no knowledge of discoveries to prove this, we must assume the town ramparts to be co-eval with the castle works, and trust that care will be taken to preserve the fragments which remain. It seems likely that some of the water of the western stream which fed the castle moats may have been diverted to fill a part, at least, of the moat outside the town rampart. LIST OF HOMESTEAD MOATS [Class F] Ash (by Sandwich) : Chequers Court.— Bilsington : Court Lodge.— To the west Moat with an extension of western side south of the church this very complete moat remains, of main work, probably originally a double Bilsington : Priory. — The site of the island moat, may be traced. Priory of Augustine canons (founded 1253) Benenden : Manor House. — Nearly three- retains portions of its moating — and another quarters of the old moat still exist. partly moated enclosure adjoins. » Now, alas ! this mediaeval waU is hidden by rampant ivy, and being further destroyed by roots of trees growing above.
425 H
