OLD KENT STONES AND BONES
KITS COTY
Map Ref: TQ745608
Kent's mightiest dolmen - Kits Coty, is the name given to the remains of a Neolithic long barrow that's to be found upon the lower slopes of Blue Bell Hill, near the old village of Burham. The monument is often referred to as Kits Coty "House", and the word "Coty" I think you'll find, actually means house. During the late 19th century it was one of the first of our ancient monuments to be recognised as such and ever since then iron railings have imprisoned it! But whilst that's helped protect these ancient stones, it didn't help save the earthen part of the barrow from being ploughed in by farmers who often cursed it for being in their way. For them it served no purpose except to deprive them of less acreage to sow, and unfortunately other stones they uncovered were either dumped in nearby woodland, re-deployed as boundary stones or simply buried.
Whilst the lower half of the field has always yielded a crop of one sort or another, nowadays we find that the top half where the monument lies is no longer sown. Surprisingly "The Circlemakers" haven't paid the lower half a visit yet - but it's expected! Instead they've chosen to pay homage to this impressive dolmen in the next field below it on a couple of occasions.
The three upright sarsens that support the 13-feet capstone are at least 7 - 8 feet high and form what was according to some, either an impressive entrance to the tomb, or part of its rectangular burial chamber. Being more likely the latter, it was once enclosed by a great mound of earth that stretched for over 200 feet. Elongated and orientated E/W, it's also thought likely that a peristalith or circle of stones surrounded the whole structure, with the distinct possibility that a stone avenue led from it. Given that there's such a wealth of Neolithic remains to be found within a six-mile radius of Kits Coty, it's also thought that there were at least another three or four stone circles existing nearby.
At Kits Coty on the Summer Solstice © GT
The monument is traditionally known as the burial site of Catigern, who fought against the Saxon brothers Hengist and Horsa in the middle of the 5th century at nearby Aylesford. Whilst Kits Coty is obviously much older than that, it's Catigern that was supposedly buried here. And just for the record...the Saxon chief Horsa was also killed during this local axe-wielding scrap with the Brits, and is thought to be buried in a valley to the south of "Horstead", along the Chatham Rd., that obviously in some sense preserves his name.
Looking like a bus shelter that's straight out of the Flintstones, as some have remarked, these stones have certainly been a blessing during a sudden downpour! I've always found that one or two of the railings surrounding it have either been bent or missing but they've never really stopped anyone from seeking the hands-on experience. Whilst some though like to pay their respects, unfortunately there's others around who wish to pay their disrespects. Even as far back as the late 19th century we find initials etc, deeply carved into the surface of these magnificent stones. Today's chalkers it would seem, are nothing in comparison to the graffiti artists of yesteryear! It's a shame Kits Coty is caged in by spiky railings but at least that must offer some form of protection. I can't help thinking though that the real act of vandalism here, was the removal of the mound that exposed the stones in the first place!
THE GENERAL'S TOMB
Early prints show an enormous stone marking the western end of the barrow, which was known as the General's Stone or the General's Tomb. Why it was so named is unclear, and the exact position of it still can't be accurately located. But thanks to some 18th century writers, they more or less agree that it was placed in basically a north-west position, less than 80 yards or so away from Kits Coty.
During the late 1860's the farmer had it destroyed by a farmhand, who blasted it with gunpowder. This was common practice at the time as many farmers looked upon these cumbersome stones as serving no purpose. To some extent though Christianity's to blame for the destruction and removal of some of these structures, for ever since the introduction of Christianity, the priesthood has declared "that all stones should be destroyed that are on the receiving end of being worshipped"!
The field just down from Kits Coty is divided in two by an ancient track. At the top end of this path lies a small copse, and hidden within it are a number of ancient stones of all shapes and sizes. Could this be the final resting-place of the dismembered General? It's also reasonable to assume that these stones weren't just dumped there, because there's also a suggestion that this was the site of an ancient draw well. Were the stones used to shore it up or infill it? Certainly "The Circlemakers" appear to indicate that this pile of stones is of some importance...for at least on two occasions a formation has landed within yards of them!
The Blue Bell Spinner of 2005 as seen from the copse © GT
© G.Tucker 2005-6
End Notes
Many thanks to Andy Fowlds for his photo heading the article. © 2005
Bibliography (1) Williams Coles Finch, In Kentish Pilgrim Land, Daniel, 1925
(2) Kent in Kaos website (no longer operational) circa 2001