Trench 4 was excavated in October 2023 as a trial trench placed across the ditch which runs E-W across the site, dividing the moated island in two. The trench is 1m wide and 6m in length, oriented N-S across the ditch.
It is unclear what the age of the ditch is or whether it was ever intended as a water-filled feature, although geophysics does suggest a division of the site here, with the buildings all concentrated in the northern half. A 19th century etching shows the feature as a footpath fronting the lawn and drive, with a possible rockery lining it, and excavation could not determine any evidence of earlier use.
https://heritagerecords.nationaltrust.org.uk/HBSMR/MonRecord.aspx?uid=MNA128719
Photos by John Townsend, with model compiled by David Fletcher
St Johns Jerusalem is a joint project of the National Trust and Darent Valley Landscape Partnership Scheme (part of Kent Downs National Landscape), and funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund
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