Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A Romano-British cremation cemetery was discovered while planting fruit trees in 1892 about 320m(350 yards) to the south west of Holy Trinity Church. The cemetery contained 13 graves of urns, some with burnt bones inside, arranged in no particular order. Four samian dishes had been buried with a flat tile covering them. A samian cup, Upchurch ware, and coarse pottery with iron hob nails were amongst the finds dated 1st - 4th c. AD.The orchard has since been built upon.

Finds are kept at Maidstone Museum.

Monument Types

• CREMATION CEMETERY (Roman - 43 AD? to 409 AD? (between))

Associated Finds

• CUP (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• DISH (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• HOB NAIL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• SHERD (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)

Full description

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[TQ 70155891] Romano-British Cemy. found AD 1892 (NAT) (1) "Romano-British urn field at Larkfield" discovered while planting fruit trees (see plan) in 1892. The site on land belonging to William Wigan, of Clare House, East Malling is on a small plateau above the River Medway, 350 yards to the south-west of Holy Trinity Church, New Hythe, and between the river and the road from New Hythe to Larkfield. It contained 13 graves of urns, some with burnt bones inside, arranged in no particular order. Four samian dishes, of Form 31, were stamped, and had been buried with a flat tile covering them. A samian cup from 33, Upchurch ware, and coarse pottery with iron hob nails were amongst the finds. Maidstone Museum has samian, Upchurch, coarse ware and nails from this site. (2,3) In store in Maidstone Museum is some RB coarse pottery, mostly grey ware, labelled "Larkfield, 1892". It includes beakers, flagons and ollae, dated 1st - 4th c. AD. (a) (b) (No accession numbers). The site of the cemetery is still under orchards. (4)

<1> OS 6" 1938-48 (OS Card Reference). SKE48355.

<2> VCH 3 1932 158 (OS Card Reference). SKE50812.

<3> PSA 2nd S Vol 17 18977-9 94 ff (F James) (OS Card Reference). SKE48778.

<4> Maidstone Mus Card Index (OS Card Reference). SKE46318.

<5> Maidstone Mus Arch Gas (in progress) Anon undated (OS Card Reference). SKE46295.

<6> F1 ASP 03-MAR-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE41911.

<7> Field report for monument TQ 75 NW 44 - March, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3909.

Sources and further reading