Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Reports from 19th century antiquarians and archaeologists indicate the presence of a small Roman villa near the (now ruined) Buckland Church. No evidences visible now, however, and it is possible that the villa is actually the Deerton Street one, listed under TQ 96 SE 22, 95 and 1055

Monument Types

• TESSELLATED FLOOR (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• VILLA (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)

Associated Finds

• COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)

Full description

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"At Teynham near Sittingbourne, Mr William Cobb has discovered the foundations of a Roman villa, which by permission of Mr James Lake, the proprietor of the land, he is now engaged in excavating." (1)

"In a field near Buckland Church, the remains of a small Roman villa were found a few years ago, the walls of two or three small rooms were traced, one of which, at least, had been paved with tesserae." (2)

"Near Buckland Church the remains of a small Roman villa were uncovered a few years ago." (3)

At Buckland Church, the remains of "a small Roman villa (apparently distinct from the remains just noted [i.e. the villa west of Hog Brook: TQ 96 SE 22]) were uncovered a few years before 1874.(a) (4)

A little beyond Sandown is a road which leads to Buckland Farm; about half way down it on the right is the site of a Roman habitation, whose foundations and floors were uncovered, in 1852, by Mr Bland. To this day, the field is covered with the debris of the fallen building, and the floors may easily be touched with a walking stick, so close are they to the surface. (SOURCE FOR THIS IS UNCERTAIN-Maybe Source 11)

Researches and Discoveries in Kent, 1899-1900. "Teynham. Mr Herbert Bing informs me that he has removed the foundations of the Roman building discovered on Buckland Farm many years ago by the late Mr William Bland, in order that fruit trees may be planted on the site. During the work of destruction the labourers found several coins, which Mr Bing kindly set to me for identification. They include the following:- TETRICUS 1; CONSTANTINE the Great, 1; ARCADIUS, 2; Illegible, 2; - all small brass, and one, illegible, of second brass." (5)

It seems probable that this is the same site as TQ 96 SE 22? (6)

Buckland Farm is deserted and ruinous. There is no local knowledge of the finding of remains of a Roman villa in the district in the last century, and examination of fields around Buckland Farm was handicapped by crops and proved negative. (7)

Field report/OS card (8,9)

Duplicate source (10).

OS source (11).

TQ 96 SE 22, 95 AND 1055, refer to Roman structures found north of this possible site around a spring at Deerton Street.

KE 53 Listed as the possible site of a Roman villa (12)

At time of visit, the field to the west of The Old Farmhouse was under wheat and no surface indications or crop marks were visible. To the west was orchard and again no surface indications were visible.
It is possible that the remains "near Buckland Church" may refer to those of TQ 96 SE 22 situated 350m north-west of the church, or that NGR TQ97686262 is not the correct reference. Further research is necessary in order to locate the position of any Roman structural remains in the vicinity. Aerial photos may show such information (13)

<01> Gents Mag 1866 ii 758 (OS Card Reference). SKE43587.

<02> C Roach Smith (OS Card Reference). SKE38457.

<03> Arch Cant 9 1874 lxxii Roman Remains Discovered in and near Faversham (G Bedo) (OS Card Reference). SKE36012.

<04> The Reliquary, 1872-73, Article by George Bedo on archaeology in the parish of Luddenham, in the periodical the Reliquary (Article in serial). SKE12626.

<05> Arch Cant XXIV 1900 liv (OS Card Reference). SKE36448.

<06> VCH Kent 3 1932 94 (R E Mortimer Wheeler) (OS Card Reference). SKE51146.

<07> Coll Cant 1893 91 (G Payne) (OS Card Reference). SKE39159.

<08> F1 ASP 16-JUL-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE42135.

<09> Field report for monument TQ 96 SE 23 - July, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4911.

<10> Anon., 1874, Roman remains in and near Faversham, p.lxxii (Article in serial). SWX7519.

<11> Information James Lake Owner (OS Card Reference). SKE44469.

<12> Eleanor Scott, 1993, A gazetteer of Roman villas in Britain (Unspecified Type). SWX23549.

<13> English Heritage, English Heritage Alternative Action Report (Miscellaneous Material). SKE53762.

Sources and further reading