HELP WANTED

Archaeologists working on the remains of the medieval Randall Manor at Shorne Country Park (near Gravesend) have discovered an unusual structure in a dam and would like to know more about it. Can you help? If you can please contact the Community Archaeologist, Lyn Palmer

The brickwork leans back on an earth dam away from the lake and has been considerably damaged around its centre over the years. Originally, a vertical slot ½ metre wide was incorporated in the brickwork and at the bottom of that is a wooden block (possibly a section of a ship's mast) into which holes had been bored and a plunger arrangement seems to have regulated the water flow. Only remnants survive.

We would very much like to know what the likely original structure and mechanism might have looked like. The wardens would like to restore the dam if possible. The conjectured date of the dam is the early 19th century. It does not appear in the 1839 Tithe Survey plan, but nor do other features which are known to have existed at that date.

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