The Historic Waterfall

One of the most distinctive characteristics of the park is the use of coarse-textured Kentish ragstone as a building material. On the south side of the park, it was used to construct the waterfall and other features, including the boundary wall and several of the lodges.

The waterfall is an important feature and focal point in the park, however, prior to its restoration, it was left in a ruinous state and partially collapsed within the lake. The waterfall was restored in 2012 using many of the original ragstone blocks retrieved from the lake.

The restored historic waterfall

Ragstone

Ragstone has been extensively quarried around Maidstone for centuries. Some would be shipped by boat via the Medway and up to London, and the Normans made great use of it in building castles, churches and other notable structures. Before them, the Romans had shipped ragstone in the same way. Another use was for cannonballs and in 1419 Henry V ordered a huge number from various Maidstone quarries. ‘Maidstone Stone’ became very well known.

Mote Park had two quarries situated on its southern edge. The Eastern Quarry was located near Keeper’s Cottage and began its life with the open working of a small outcrop, but then this was extended beneath the southern boundary of the park.

Ragstone was extracted in large blocks, being roughly trimmed underground before being hauled out on carts or small sledges. The galleries extended for 400m or more, roof falls did occur and working conditions would have been neither safe nor pleasant.

The Western Quarry was located to the west of Claygate. It was smaller with another set of underground workings which also extended beyond the park boundary.

Quarrying ended many years ago and in the late 1950s the Council deemed both quarries to be too dangerous, and a temptation to children, so the entrances were blocked up.

Credit: ‘Mote Park’s Story’ by Simon Ginnaw and Robin Ambrose, 2018