# Kent Ramblers: Walk 61

![](https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/banner_061.jpg)

## Points of Interest

### Brenchley

![](https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/P061a.jpg)

Brenchley originally prospered through the cloth 
						trade, then became a centre for the iron industry and 
						later hops.

Orchards, once in decline, are now seeing a 
						substantial revival and you will pass many recently 
						planted apple trees on this walk.

![](https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/P061b.jpg)

### Castle Hill

There are the remains of a medieval ringwork castle 
						as indicated on the map.  Ringwork castles were 
						typically built in the 11th and 12th centuries as 
						alternatives to Motte and Bailey castles ' the choice 
						being based on topography and geology rather than wealth 
						or status.  A typical ringwork consisted of a 
						simple earth bank, often topped with a wooden palisade, 
						surrounded by a ditch (from which the earth had been 
						taken to create the bank).  At this site the main 
						bank was around 70 metres wide and there was a second, 
						smaller bank outside the ditch.  There would have 
						been wooden buildings within the defences.

### Furnace Pond

Water from this pond once pond once powered one of 
						the largest iron works in the Weald employing over 200 
						men.  In 1614 its owner, John Brown, was granted 
						the monopoly of making iron and brass guns for the navy.

### Public Transport

Brenchley can be reached by public transport from 
						Tunbridge Wells ' service 297 runs every couple of hours 
						but not on Sundays.

Automatically migrated from https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/walk_061.htm on 2025-12-11 09:19