Dene Park - Gover Hill - Old Soar Manor - Dene Park
You need to log in as a member of Walkingworld to access the details for this walk and have an active subscription. Please join, or log in above if you are already a member.
This walk was originally compiled by Alan and Janet Love, sadly both are no longer with us. Alison Gilbert has kindly offered to take them over. Alison and Walkingworld would like all these excellent walks to remain as a continuing tribute to Alan and Janet.
We start our walk at Dene Park, in the Middle Ages part of the hunting chase of North Frith belonging to the Clare Family of Tonbridge Castle. A boundary stone which we will pass on the walk marks the meeting point of the three parishes of Shipbourne, Hadlow and West Peckham.
The path runs along the top of an earth bank 6ft high in places, which marked the old boundary between Clare lands and lands belonging to the King. In medieval times an oak paling fence ran along the top of the bank, making a substantial boundary marker, also helping to keep deer within the chase. Clearhedges Wood, a corruption of 'Clare' hedges, is an example of early boundary definition.
We traverse woods and meadows, ascending through the old deer park of Oxen Hoath manor. The present house is by the architect Slavin (1846). The house and grounds are very picturesque and we walk up a lovely cedar-lined drive to pass in front of the house. We follow an enclosed fenced path up between orchards to emerge at Gover Hill. On the opposite side of the road is a track leading up to a marvellous viewpoint at 500ft, which gives magnificent views over the Bourne Valley, all courtesy of the National Trust who own and manage the woodland.
We continue our walk by descending Roughway Lane until we reach Rats Castle, which is a 15th-century house that had its timber frame encased in local ragstone, brick and tile in the 17th Century by Stephen Chilman, whose initials are on the gable. In the 19th Century it decayed and its uncomplimentary name was given to it by workmen who lived there while they did building work on the nearby mansion of Hamptons. Old Soar Manor, a NT property, is the remains of a late 13th Century knight's dwelling, all that is left of the manor-house of c1290 which stood here until the 18th Century. The solar chamber over a barrel-vaulted undercroft was once inhabited by a medieval knight. Every road crossing of the Bourne was once the site of a mill for corn or latterly, for paper. Roughway Mill was connected with the paper industry. This is an altogether delightful walk with many variations.
England - South England - Kent - Countryside
Features
Ancient Monument, Birds, Butterflies, Flowers, Great Views, National Trust, Pub, Public Transport, Restaurant, River, Wildlife, Woodland
Walkingworld members near this walk
Holidays and activities
Distance away
Clubs/Walking Groups
Distance away