Tollsworth Farm

Description

To the south of Tolworth Farm, Chaldon, on level ground immediately above the North Downs escarpment, is the remains of a sub-rectangular earthwork measuring some 130m. On the north and west it comprises a severely reduced rampart with outer ditch now occupied by a track and to the south it has been destroyed by the edge of a chalkpit. The enclosed area is under pasture and featureless. The farmhouse, the former manor house, is probably 16th century in origin. Whilst of little architectural interest externally its fabric contains a number of huge ragstone blocks obviously from a much more ostentatious building elsewhere. It is likely therefore that the earthworks represent the site of medieval building of some importance, probably a fortified Manor House. (SHHER)

The earthwork consists of a raised platform, roughly rectangular, with the north and west faces clear, rising to 5ft above ground level. The east line, though, is confused by a field boundary, and on the south there is no distinctive bank but a number of ridges running parallel to an old chalk pit cut into the scarp face. Because there are slight indications that the earthwork was originally surrounded on two sides by ditches, the report says, this earthwork 'may prove to be a moated homestead'. (Paul K Lyons ref. 1921, Congress of Arch. Socs.)