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 |
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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 |