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Baker's Hole site in Swanscombe and Greenhithe put on English Heritage at risk register

A site showing evidence of early Neanderthal man is one of six in Kent put on the English Heritage At Risk list.

The register, updated today, adds Baker's Hole site in Swanscombe and Greenhithe.

It survives as two overgrown islands of unquarried land within a former chalk quarry.

The Ebbsfleet Valley
The Ebbsfleet Valley

The Palaeolithic site contains undisturbed evidence of early Neanderthal man who lived in Britain between 250,000 and 200,000 years ago and is at risk due to lack of management.

It has become overgrown by thick scrub, and ancient animal remains are decaying from exposure to the elements.

English Heritage and Natural England are planning a detailed survey of the site to develop a long-term management plan.

Others on the At Risk register are the remains of the gatehouse to the former Archbishops Palace in Otford and a Martello Tower at Shorncliffe Camp in Sandgate.

Shurland Hall in Eastchurch
Shurland Hall in Eastchurch
Hadlow Tower restored to its former glory
Hadlow Tower restored to its former glory

But the good news is the Grade I listed Hadlow Tower, which has been on the list since 1999, is now removed as it's been repaired and open to the public.

Mote House in Mote Park, Maidstone and Shurland Hall in Eastchurch on Sheppey have also come off the register.

Dr Andy Brown, planning and conservation director for English Heritage in the South East, said: "We’re proud of our successes in removing historic sites from the Register as we and our many partners take care to keep attention focussed on heritage at risk.

"While some of our most important sites, such as Hadlow Tower, have seen huge strides forward towards repair and reuse recently, there is still a lot left to do in order to preserve the historic buildings and places in the South East for future generations."

The Kent buildings or structures removed from the Heritage at Risk Register are:

Mote House, Mote Park, Maidstone

Shurland Hall, Leysdown Road, Eastchurch, Sheppey

Hadlow Tower, Hadlow

Those added to the Heritage at Risk Register are:

Palace Farmhouse, Market Place, Charing,

No 2 Palace Cottages and the Remains of the Gatehouse, Market Place, Charing

Dovecote at Burnt House Farm, Chartham

Remains of the gatehouse to former Archbishops Palace, Otford

Martello Tower No7, Shorncliffe Camp, Sandgate

St Edwards, St Augustine’s Road, Ramsgate


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