OLD KENT STONES AND BONES
THE COLDRUM LONGBARROW
Map Ref: TQ654607
Of all the old Kent stones perhaps the most revered are the ones that are known affectionately as “The Coldrums”. Perched somewhat precariously on the edge of a ridge, this upright chamber looks out upon the valley floor of the North Downs. Set in idyllic countryside close to the Pilgrims Way, it's a very magical place that offers much in the way of peace within its immaculate seclusion.
Nothing really remains of the barrow mound, but most of the fallen stones that once formed the outer peristalith can still be seen. Whilst they are often mistaken for being a separate stone circle, these stones originally formed a quadrangular enclosure around the central chamber. Unfortunately it seems most of them either fell or were dislodged long ago by ruthless chalk excavators. Despite all this though and as far as Kent's megalithic tombs are concerned, “The Coldrums” are without doubt the best preserved.
The name Coldrum is said to have been derived from the old West-Country word “galdrum”, which refers simply to “an enchanted place”. “The Coldrums” are certainly that...for they offer us a place of meditation and quiet thought within an area that's seen little change in hundreds of years.
The Pilgrims Way which locally snakes around the foot of the downs was in use during pre-Christian times when it was simply known as “The Way”. This ancient track led many of the ancients to these old stones, which long ago became central to Druid worship. With them being orientated east-west “The Coldrums” have equinox sunrise alignments…which along with the solstices are still celebrated here following the ancient traditions of worship set out by the Druids.
Surrounded by trees, the Coldrum site is quite open to the age-old tradition of tree dressing that’s probably as old as the stones themselves. All year round ribbons and posies are seen adorning these trees that many of its Pagan visitors have left behind. The idea behind all this being that if you make a wish or a prayer at the site before leaving your offering there, your wish will be granted when in time your posy or ribbon withers and ruins.
The site was excavated in 1910 and the remains of twenty two individuals of all ages ranging from newborns to the elderly were discovered there. Long before that though, a couple of locals had also discovered the remains of a skeleton at the site. The bones were removed and buried some distance away in the churchyard at Meopham. On learning of this the rector of nearby Trottiscliffe (pronounced Tros-ley) wrote to ask the vicar of Meopham what he meant by stealing his oldest parishioner!
The old pilgrim church of St. Peter and St. Paul at Trottiscliffe lies in a north-easterly direction, roughly three quarters of a mile away from the stones. Although the church is regarded as being Norman, the eastern end of it is probably built on foundations that are Saxon in origin. These are seen to include some old sarsen stones that might well have been a part of a stone circle, for it was common practice to build churches upon these ancient energy sites and to purposefully include the stones...That being something which would hopefully still attract the locals to meet and worship where their ancestors had always gathered, whilst confronted by Latin rituals they probably didn’t have a clue about!
The church lies at the end (or is it the beginning?) of a short three-line lay that passes through “The Coldrums” before heading for Burham Court Church that’s just over the other side of the Medway river. Just in front of this energy line that sits beside The Pilgrims Way, two magnificent crop circles arrived on Solstice Eve during June of ’99. Discovered on the morning of the 20th, they both appeared in separate wheat fields that were overlooked by the church. The following photo shows both formations as they were viewed from Trottiscliffe Country Park. The photo obviously covers quite an area but you should just be able to make out Trottiscliffe Church, that’s situated roughly in the middle.
The Trottiscliffe Formations
Photo © Graham Tucker
Photos © Andrew King
“The Circlemakers” purposefully acknowledged “The Coldrums” during the summer of 2003 with a Celtic inspired formation that arrived on the solstice…and much I might add, to the delight of a band of new-age chanters and drummers who apparently celebrated its appearance with a super-charged passion!
The Coldrum Formation from the Stones – 21st June 2003 Photo © G.T.
sketch of the Coldrum formation… Diagram © G.T.
© G.Tucker 2007
End Notes
Bibliography Williams Coles Finch, In Kentish Pilgrim Land, Daniel, 1925