It was the custom in the Anglo-Saxon era to attach to upland manors, on the chalk or sand hills, large areas of land in the distant Weald. These areas were usually known as dens. We do not know when this custom originated but it is certainly the fact that the names of some of these dens are of an exceedingly archaic type. These names, apt to be misunderstood by succeeding generations, were often mis-copied in a way which sometimes concealed the original name. Hlifgesella, for example, became Lewcell. In other cases the den changed its name in the course of centuries, taking in turn the names of one or more successive owners. In still other cases old dens were absorbed in greater estates and their identity was first merged, and finally lost. It is therefore not surprising to those who would identify their positions on the modern map. This is certainly true of the dens of Little Chart as recorded in the charter of the year 843 (B.C.S. 442). Of the ten names originally inscribed on the charter, two were erased with very little delay. Their names can just be made out and are italicized in the list which follows, but we are not concerned with them because they seem to have been entered in error. Of the

remaining eight only one has hitherto been identified with any certainty. This essay is therefore devoted to the searching out of these seven lost names and their restoration to their proper place on the map. It is the fashion to dignify such enquiries with the name of Research, but they are in fact archaeological games of a very attractive sort and I venture to hope that this essay may show those who pause to read it that the information required is usually to be obtained from the fairly copious material of manor rolls, tithe maps, sale particulars, old deeds, maps, and the like. The names of the dens of Little Chart are certainly curious enough and are recorded as follows in the year 843—Aetingden, Lidingden, Meredenn, Uddanhom, Cadacahrygc, Heoratleag, Hwitan ......... de, Hildgaringdenn, Tilgeseltha, and Hlifgesella. In endeavouring to identify them it will be necessary to make fairly frequent reference to three particular sources, which will be cited as follows. F. (Furley's History of the Weald of Kent), K.PN. (Wallenberg's Kentish Place