Deterioration of city monument is ‘unacceptable’

Council admits historic mound in sorry state

A historic city landmark has been been allowed to deteriorate to an “unacceptable” state, the council has admitted.

Concern has been raised about the condition of the Dane John mound and monument which is one of Canterbury’s best-known features.

First constructed as a burial mound during the Roman occupation of the city, it is now topped by a Grade Ii-listed memorial to Alderman James Simmons, a former proprietor of the Kentish Gazette who created the Dane John Gardens in 1790.

Its deterioration and that of areas of the gardens has been flagged up by a former head of the authority’s planning department, Mansell Jagger.

He fired a broadside at his old employer after visiting the site with his grandson at the weekend.

“As we climbed to the top of the mound, I was dismayed to find what a parlous state this historic monument is now in,” said Mr Jagger.

“The mound and hedges are completely overgrown and the paths full of litter.

“Worse still, at the top of the mound there are a series of deep gouges which are threatening the stability of the memorial and railings.”

The city council carried a full-scale restoration of the gardens in 1999, funded by a Heritage Lorry grant and financial help from local people and businesses.

But the park was later stripped of its green flag status, in part because of crime and disorder in the gardens.

Branding the former children’s play castle area beneath the mound “an eyesore”, Mr Jagger added: “The water fountain in the middle of the garden is barely more than a bubble and the whole feature needs a thorough clean. Further towards Worthgate, there is a large and growing rubbish dump, he said.

“One wonders if the council leader and his colleagues or any of the officers ever actually walk around the centre of Canterbury.

“If they did, they ought to be highly embarrassed by what they see.

“Instead of dreaming up ways of spending millions on unwanted projects, the council should be looking after those attractions that we still have.”

The city council says it shares Mr Jagger’s disappointment and frustration and admits the situation is “unacceptable”.

“We are challenging our grounds maintenance contractor to lift its game on all counts as a matter of urgency, “said spokesman Leo Whitlock.

“As the Dane John Gardens is a historic monument, gathering the necessary permissions has taken some time but we knew that would be the case.

“Coincidently, the fountain was cleaned out and jet washed on Friday and we are investigating why the pump is not working properly.”

Mr Whitlock says there are plans for a new £110,000 play area, due to be installed next year, with the proposals already put out to a public consultation.

‘As we climbed to the top of the mound, I was dismayed to find what a parlous state this historic monument is now in’

The sorry-looking Dane John mound and the commemoration plaque, which has seen better days

Mansell Jagger