Bekesbourne TR194555 (3*) Suitable for All Image sent in of the ford at Church Lane Sent in by Ian Bowman (Image 1: 14/05/2002) and Joe Smith (Image 2: 23/03/2010)
Bishopsbourne TR191524 (1*) Irish Bridge Sent in by Dave Taylor (14/05/2002)
'An Irish Bridge near an inviting looking pub!'
Bridge TR180541 (2*) Suitable for All Sent in by Stephen Burman (01/09/2003)
Description by Paul Manners
'Very small ford on the south of the village, 5 cm deep, 2 m wide'
Chart Sutton TQ806505 (1*) Suitable for All Sent in by Alan Pett (11/05/2010)
'THE MYSTERY OF CHART SUTTON FORD
I came across your 'Wet Roads' site completely by chance, and had a real laugh when I spotted the Chart Sutton 'ford' entry.
The image shows the 'ford' as it is now and a copy of the e-mail below that identifies the origin of the 'Ford' signage. The signs appeared about 3 months after the incident. (Somewhere, I have conventional photos of the flooding at the time of the incident, but they are not to hand at the moment.) The current photos do not show the drainage ditches on either side clearly, as they are currently 'filled' visually by the flush of spring weed growth, but they are about knee deep, something of which I was aware as I floundered about 'blind' in the deluge of muddy water.'
RE: Norton Road, Langley/Chart Sutton, Maidstone
Following a diversion from the A229 last night, I had cause to travel down the A274 to Langley and then elected to travel along Norton Road to Chart Sutton, Cross at Hand and so back to the A229. This is a route that I have used before, but not one with which I am totally familiar.
It was raining and after dark. I was riding a motorcycle at maybe 35mph (it is a National Speed Limit Road), as the surface of this road is pretty awful and the rain moderately heavy. Surface water was streaming across the road at a number of places in the course of my journey. It was not surprising to see what appeared to be the same in Norton Road.
Mistake. I was instantly deluged in a torrent of brown water, completely preventing any vision. Though slowing because of the drag of the water and because I had closed the throttle, I was still moving forward 'blind' for long enough to worry about whether I was still travelling along the road, or veering off, or whether I would hit another vehicle.
I returned to site this morning. This revealed a 'trough' of water, probably over 30m long and probably higher than my Wellington boots, so I didn't venture far in to confirm. The water stretched across the whole width of the road, the surface being level with that in the drainage ditches at either side of the road. There is nowhere for the water to go. The only solution is to raise the surface of the road.
I write because the lack of signage, indicating 'Flood', or 'road liable to flooding' (of which I was not previously aware) and my inability to see this hazard under the circumstances, despite keeping a reasonable look-out on this unlit road and travelling at a reasonable speed under the conditions for a properly maintained road, meant that I was placed in a position where I might have suffered serious injury or death.
Quite clearly, the Highway Authority is under a duty to see that the road is properly drained and to take steps to ensure that users are aware of exceptional hazards. I believe that KCC Highways have failed to maintain this highway properly or provide adequate warning.
You will no doubt take steps to put matters right promptly. I look forward to receiving confirmation of this.
Alan Pett
'I hope that you appreciate the 'phantom ford', generated by the imagination of a KCC Highways engineer somehere!'
Ditton TQ708579 (3*) Restricted Access Sent in by Nicholas Woollett (21/03/2003)
'This a delightful ford in Ditton which is a suburb of Maidstone in Kent. It is a bit unusual because it is fairly narrow and forms an S bend and features railings on one side, the water being clear and fast running about 1 foot deep at the time of my visit.'
'Following pressure from the Parish Council Kent Highways have placed a temporary closure order on the ford (TRO for 6 months). There are large concrete blocks at both ends now and signs along the entry roads in Bradbourne Lane and The Stream (Image 4). The plan is for them to process a permanent TRO while the temporary Order is in place. Kent Highways view is that the ford is too deep to allow cars through, they keep getting sued for damages, upgrading the ford to a shallower concrete bed would cost upto £50,000 and such work would make it too popular increasing traffic flow. Most normal cars get stuck because the entry/exit ramp has broken away and there is a 6-12" step down to the firm sandy river bed.' Richard Dickenson (08/07/2008)
'Kent CC have now actually made a permanent Order but not told anyone or put up notices. Richard Dickenson (25/02/2010)
Elmstead TR202507 (1*) Irish Bridge Sent in by Paul Devall (Image 1: 04/09/2005; Image 2: 13/04/2010)
'The water, when it flows, follows the road and is really a glorified ditch nowadays and flows across the road and through a bridge opening on the opposite side. Kent County Council have cleverly placed a drain right in the way of any potential water flow though!'
Eynsford TQ540655 (5*) Suitable for All Sent in by Ian Bowman (Images 1 & 2: 14/05/2002), Xavier Gosselin (Image 3: 28/02/2004) and Simon Holland (Image 4: 15/02/2006)
'Take care with this one, the depth gauge reads significantly lower then it actually is!' Image 1 mouseover and video sent in by Colin Leonard (07/11/2004)
Image 5 sent in by Adrian Bailey showing Eynsford circa. 1960
Image 6 sent in by Jim Deadman showing Eynsford circa. 1960
Grain Tower TQ898760 (1*) Tidal Sent in by John Brown and Colin Hargreaves (31/01/2004)
'A causeway links this abandoned Napoleonic War defensive structure, built on the tidal flats at the mouth of the Medway, to the Isle of Grain. For description and photo (including part of causeway) see here. The causeway is shown on the OS 1:25K and older i:50K, but not on the current 1:50K. It is built of stone setts, which look as if they are suffering.'
Image 1 is at the end of an unsurfaced road to the left of Smithfield
Road & Image 2 is a sign hanging on a large gate at the end
of Smithfield Road
Patrixbourne (x2!) TR191551 (2*) Suitable for All TR191543 (2*) Suitable for All Sent in by Stephen Burman (03/08/2003, 01/09/2003)
Stoneacre TQ800535 (1*) Suitable for All Sent in by Nicholas Woollett (10/01/2010)
'The road although marked as a bridle path on my map is surfaced and access does no seem to be restricted'
Thanington TR127568 (2*) Off-Roaders Only! Sent in by Nicholas Woollett (29/04/2003)
'I saw Tonford Lane on the right leading to Tonford Manor and drove down it past houses directly to the grassy bank of the river with distinct signs of an old ford but no restrictions, marker poles or other paraphenalia that accompany a "normal ford". There were however some old railings on both sides of the river. The river is quite fast flowing with a clear gravelly bottom and would still be OK for 4 x 4 vehicles. It obviously hasn't been used properly for some time but the roads face each other on both sides and there is no good reason for it's state of disuse.'
Wateringbury TQ680531 (2*) Restricted Access Sent in by Nicholas Woollett (14/06/2004)
'Pretty country ford with footbridge, depth gauge and warning signs. Hard cobbled bottom about 6" deep and 8' wide.'
West Peckham TQ653524 (2*) Off-Roaders Only! Sent in by Nicholas Woollett (08/02/2004)
'I found this ford while out testing the Dellow last March and investigating RPPs - won't be allowed soon ! You will find it at 188/ 653 524. The track going to the ford is OK from Forge Farm but is very rutted for a while as it ascends the hill and then flattens out to a deep quagmire after which the track narrows and is very cambered making any further vehicular progress a No No. OK for walkers and mountain bikers. It's pity because the ford is OK.'
'This ford is part way along a public vehicular right of way (Byway Open to All Traffic) with Kent County Council number MR362. Unfortunately the byway is badly overgrown, rutted, waterlogged and blocked by large fallen trees to the west of the ford. I will be contacting KCC's RoW department soon to try and get the obstructions cleared. I couldn't even get along on a mountain bike for most of the route!' Richard Dickenson
