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.—" then from the Swallow, the Cray-settler's dwelling,1
to the gibbet-mark."
The long-used Bickley chalk-pits near, are probably
those referred to as "Swellinde Pette," in the Saxon
charter dated between 1250 and 1274, by which Andreas
de Chselherst granted to the Bishop of Rochester and
his successors, eightpence annual rent out of the "Marlera"
at "Swellinde Pette," in "Villa de Chisleherst."
The hillside above the valley, now Camden Park, laid
down in grass, presents, on passing the eye over the formerly
ploughed lands, several surface irregularities and
slight hollows, denoting some former disturbance of the
surface.
It is reported that some years since, the earth on the
opposite side of the valley fell into a cavity below; and
lately, in Sundridge Park, a similar fall took place, but
the cavity was at once filled up without examination. Similar earthfalls have been observed at Paul's Cray and
Cudham. Within a few feet however of the lately explored
cavern, the side of one of the adits, some distance
apart from the other, has slightly given way, and has
disclosed similar black earth, in an apparently similar
cavity, and this unexplored cavern remains untouched,
awaiting future operations.
Although no trace of the existence of a Roman building
in Camden Park as yet appears, except the remnants
of early fictile ware thus found on the spot, it is undoubted
that Roman gentry, during the four centuries
of the Roman occupation of Britain, had residences not
far distant, and, in the language of antiquarians, "hereabout."
1 " Chslehurst-man's dwelling
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