Exploring Kent's Past

It should not be assumed that this site is publicly accessible and it may be on private property. Do not trespass.

Monument details

Summary

In the 19th and 20th century building foundations, a tesselated floor, Roman pottery and other finds were uncovered, listed as the possible site of a Roman villa. Medieval pottery also uncovered.

Monument Types

• FLOOR (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• URN (URN, Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)

Associated Finds

• COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• SHERD (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• SHERD (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)

Full description

If you do not understand anything on this page please contact us.

['A' TQ 5421 7402] Roman Coins found here [T.I.] ['B' TQ 5422 7402] Roman Vase found here [T.I.] (1) Roman finds from the vicinity of High Street, Dartford include:- ['A'] A strong pavement of plain red tesserae under the corner shop nearest the pump at the entrance to Lowfield Street. (2) ['B'] An unbaked Roman urn with wheelmarks found by Dunkin in 1833 on laying the foundation of his house in High Street. (3) ['C'][TQ 5429 7398 Approx. siting (4)] Foundations doubtless of a Roman building, exposed in 1866 in High Street to west of church. [Spurrell is ambiguous with his siting evidence. A small collection of Roman relics from this site was presented to Kent Arch. Soc. Museum (2) ['D'] TQ 543740 R.B. Pottery, mostly 1st c. and Samian ware, found in builder's trenches on the site of Penney, Son and Parker's shop, on the south side of High Street, 65 yds. west of the church (5) [This shop is now replaced by Woolworths at TQ 5432 7399, adjacent to Council Offices.] ['E'] TQ 5431 7406 Roman sherds from deep trenches behind Marks and Spencers in High Street about 100 yds. north west of church (6) ['F'] Upchurch ware found in excavating the basement for Messrs. Pott's new premises in Lowfield Street c. 1938. (7) Samian platter and other Roman pottery found during excavations in 1960, were presented to Dartford Museum. (8) (2-8) 'A' The coins are not in Dartford Museum. (9) 'B' This is not an urn but a small globular vessel with a tall neck. The British Museum states it is definitely not Romano-British.(a) In Dartford Museum store.(9) 'C' Siting by Authority 4 is occupied by ornamental gardens at the rear of Dartford Council Offices.(9) 'E' finds in possession of L.C. Dale, 16 Baldwyn's Park, Dartford.(10) 'F' Messrs. Pott's shop sited to TQ 5421 7399 (9) (9-10) 'D' The pottery is probably in store in Dartford Museum, but could not be located.

<1> O.S. 1/500 1860 (OS Card Reference). SKE47782.

<2> Arch. Cant. 18,1889,312 (F.C.J. Spurrell) (OS Card Reference). SKE36979.

<3> "Hist. of Dartford" 1844, 91 (J. Dunkin) (OS Card Reference). SKE32639.

<4> Maidstone Museum 6" (OS Card Reference). SKE46355.

<5> Arch. Cant. 73,1959,xlvii (H.J. Balls) (OS Card Reference). SKE37049.

<6> Arch. Cant. 72, 1958,lxii (L. Dale) (OS Card Reference). SKE37040.

<7> Trans. Dartford Dist. A.S. 8 1938, 12.13 (OS Card Reference). SKE50677.

<8> Dartford Museum Donations File (OS Card Reference). SKE39669.

<9> J.N. Carrack, F.S.A. Chislehurst (OS Card Reference). SKE44837.

<10> F1 ASP 31-OCT-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE42364.

<11> F2 CFW 03-NOV-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE43202.

<12> F3 ASP 02-OCT-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE43368.

<13> VCH Kent 3 1932 88 (REM Wheeler) (OS Card Reference). SKE51137.

<14> Arch Cant 88 1973 187-99 (D C Mynard) (OS Card Reference). SKE35932.

<15> Field report for monument TQ 57 SW 7 - October, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3112.

<16> Field report for monument TQ 57 SW 7 - November, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3113.

<17> Field report for monument TQ 57 SW 7 - October, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3114.

Sources and further reading