Today I got a call from a couple of walkers who have made really good progress and got from Lenham over to Wye by mid afternoon. They rang to ask about the tomb of the bastard son of Richard Plantagenet who is reputedly said to be buried in a tomb in the grave yard of St Mary's church, which is within a stones throw from where the North Downs Way passses through the Eastwell Park estate.

Unfortunately today's walkers have done so well that they actually passed the church, which is hidden by some trees just to the right of the North Downs Way. The setting is beautifull and worth finding as it is by the Eastwell lake. I believe the lake is the second largest artificial lake in Kent. When the lake was draiined after the last war many bikes were found to have been dumped in the lake, supposedly commandered by troops, stationed there in the war, and thrown into the lilly covered waters after returning to camp pubs in
Ashford.

The North Downs Way crosses a drive-way leading from an imposing Georgian style house, which one passes to your left if approaching from Westwell. The North Downs Way continues along a grass verge bordering a tarmac road that continues into the grounds of Eastwell Park. The ruins of the church of St. Mary are to your right. A kissing gate leads into the grounds of the church.

The church dates form the 15th century and it said to have collapsed largely through neglect. Other accounts suggest it may have suffered bomb damage during WW II. About 20 metres from the wall of the church tower a brick built tomb can be found in the sheltered area of the grave yard. The inscription on the tomb states that it is reputed to be the tomb of Richard Plantagenet, a bastard son of Richard III.

The romantic story is that when Richard III was defeated and killed at the battle of Bosworth Field in 1485, his son Richard fled south and became either a stone mason or carpenter. According to this story, Richard remained on the Eastwell estate until Sir Thomas Moyle who built Eastwell House noticed a grey haired laborer in his employment who could read. After gaining the trust of the old man, Sir Thomas learnt that the person in his employment was Richard Plantagenet. Legend has it that Sir Thomas had a small cottage built in the estate for Richard and allowed the last of the Plantagenet line to serve out his last few years in peace on the Eastwell Estate.

Tomoorrow when I meet the walkers in the morning I will give them a lift back to St Marys so they can see the tomb.