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West Malling digs into its past
MANY properties lining West Malling High Street and Swan Street had very ancient beginnings indeed.
So when Ibbett Mosely applied for consent to extend their High Street Offices to the rear, an archaeological excavation was required as a condition of the planning approval. The dig was carried out by Swale and Thames Archaeological Study Company and revealed a relatively dense distribution of medieval pits and features.
A well, partially filled up with five old cookers, a cheese or ice pit and a partial dry stone cellar floor running towards an adjoining property were uncovered and mapped. A pair of small millstones were also found on the property. And, in addition, there were hundreds of fragments of pottery from the year 1050 to the present day.
The position of the features discovered suggested that the earlier dwelling may have been connected with the Ancient House, or Priests house which stands a couple of plots further north along the High Street. It is thought to have been part of the industrial buildings associated with West Malling Abbey.
Sadly one of the millstones was broken and the fragments lost, but the history of the other is being investigated by archaeologists.
It is thought to be made of a basalt lava (volcanic) stone found in Germany. Such stones were shipped to England and were very valuable, often being mentioned in wills.
The size of the stone suggests that it could have been operated either by hand or animals. Because some of the patterns on millstones were still being used in the last century, it may prove impossible to date accurately, but it is potentially as old as Saxo-Norman times, which again is the known date of the Ancient House nearby.
The artefacts and millstone become the property of the owners of the site once investigated. However, parish council chairman Trudy Dean has suggested that it could be returned for display in the town. She explained: “We need to wait for the final report on the origin of the stones, but it would be great if such an important part of the early history of the town could be available for the public to see.
“I am working with the parties concerned to see if we can
raise the necessary funding for the archaeological study and restoration of the Ancient House, too. “Together with this work, it would fill an important gap in our knowledge of the growth of our town around the Abbey. “
War memorial complete for Remembrance Sunday
THE renovation of the West Malling War Memorial has been completed in time for Remembrance Day. The bronze plaque has been re-enamelled and the masonry has been cleaned and re-pointed. The renovation works were made possible by a grant of £3,630 from the War Memorials Trust and generous local donations. Both West Malling
Parish Council and St Marys Church would like to thank everybody who contributed towards this project.
A Malling Action Partnership publication
Nov/Dec 2018
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