I wonder if the old maps would show a boundary or gateway nearby ?
Interesting though
cheers,
M
Hmm...there is a possiblity that it could be a parish boundary marker. It certainly is on the cusp of two villages (Boughton Monchelsea and Wierton, in Kent), but Wierton is part of the civil parish of Boughton Monchelsea. So it may be an old church parish boundary. But it's about 100m into the woods from the main path (Greensand Way) that runs between the two parishes. Since the Enclosures Act I would doubt boundaries/hedgeways/paths to vary so much.
But the nature of the markings also seem decidedly un-Christian. Although I don't know about such things and maybe such markings are par for the course? I don't know.
There is a large manor house just a few hundred metres further along the Greensand Way called Wierton Place. This dates from the mid-18th century. I suppose it is possible that some of the farmland surrounding may have been sold off and boundaries changed and it could be an old manor boundary marker? Did such things exist? Although the stone doesn't look that old to me. And, again, the nature of the markings seems anomalous
I have emailed a local pagan/wicca group to see if the stone means anything to them. Although anything 'spiritual' tends to get jumped on and assumed by such types. I will wait and see what they say and make my judgement based on the quality of their response.
For anyone who has access, the map coordinates would be (roughly) TQ778502 (using OS Landranger 188)