2-667-964 - Historic England Archive/Heritage Images

Kit's Coty House, Aylesford, Kent, 1880. Albumen print. Flaxman Spurrell's photograph album contains two photographs of Kit's Coty House, the remains of a Neolithic long barrow and burial chamber. The first one, taken in 1880 and seen here, shows the monument before the Ancient Monuments Protection Act in 1882 that recognised the need for a Government role in safeguarding the nation's ancient monuments. The second, which Spurrell captioned 'Kit's Coty under The Act', was taken in 1888 and clearly shows the iron railings which now restricted public access and prevented further damage to the monument. Graffiti scratched into an upright and worn ground around the monument are evident in Spurrell's photographs.