The main part of the village is Coldred Street which lies 1⁄2 mile (0.80 km) to the south-west.

Based on the Domesday Book entry, the Oxford Dictionary of Place Names gives "Clearing where coal is found, or where charcoal is made.

[2] This is also quoted by the village website which lists the variant names of "Coeldred", "Coelret" and "Colret".

The Dover Express and East Kent News mentions "history of Caesar's movements" as the origin of the earthworks, but unfortunately doesn't state where this supposition comes from.

[b] Unfortunately there are a number of locations that this could be, one is Adam's Grave in Wiltshire, but local tradition is that it was Woodnesborough near Sandwich, Kent.

[5] Following the Norman conquest in 1066 the manor fell into the hands of Odo, Earl of Kent, Bishop of Bayeux and half brother of William I.

The entry in the Domesday book (below) reflects this though four years later at the trial of Penenden Heath he was deprived of the manor and it reverted to the crown.

[4] Tha manor was granted to the Saye family who passed it to The Hospital of St Mary, Domus Dei, or Maison Dieu in nearby Dover.

Following the dissolution of the monasteries it passed back into the King's hands who granted it to Thomas Culpeper.

[4] The Dover Express notes that the well affords a good supply of water and that it "was sunk to supply the needs of the ancient encampment, a circumstance which points to the existence of a permanent station, such as would have been formed by the Romans rather than an earthwork thrown up for a casual conflict like that between Ceoldred and Ina.

[10] In the 11th century alterations were made, possibly at that time the flint quoins were replaced by ashlar blocks.

He states that there is no evidence of pre-Norman work, citing the absence of any mention in the Domesday Book entry.

The south doorway was added at this time, and it is possible that the original door is still in place, though traces of earlier zig-zag moulding are above it.

The bell (1 long cwt 3 qr [200 lb or 90 kg] approx) was noted as badly cracked and stored in the church in 1887.

As evidence he cites the Anglo-Saxon chronicle which mentions that Ceoldred fought a battle with Ina, king of the West Saxons[e] in 715 nearby.

[4] This account is repeated in a series of articles published in the local paper a hundred years later.

The designation states: "as one of a limited number and very restricted range of Anglo-Saxon and Norman fortifications, ringworks are of particular significance to our understanding of the period".