Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A possible 1st-4th century settlement was revealed during excavations at Bromhey Farm by the Lower Medway Archaeological Research Group, 1966-1970. Large quantities of unstratified Roman tile, pottery, shells and briquetage were found on spoil heaps. Salt boiling hearths also revealed large quantities of Romano-British pottery, briquetage and coins of Gratian indicaitng late 4th century activity. Another building or structure thought to be associated with salt making was identified. This hearths was surrounded by a chalk floor which had four piers of rammed chalk and flint arranged in a square round it.

Monument Types

• HEARTH (for salt boiling, Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• INHUMATION (Roman - 43 AD to 399 AD)
• SALT WORKS (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• SETTLEMENT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• SPOIL HEAP (containing pottery, Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• POTTERY KILN (Roman - 90 AD to 120 AD)
• POTTERY MANUFACTURING SITE (Roman - 90 AD to 120 AD)

Associated Finds

• BRIQUETAGE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• OYSTER SHELL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• POTTERY ASSEMBLAGE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• ROOF TILE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)

Full description

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Excavation by by the Lower Medway Arch.Res.Group between 1966 and 1967 suggests a late 1st century settlement with occupation lasting until the 3rd century. The field is to be developed in about 5 years time and excavation will continue.

(1) Area of excavations, 24.0m square, at TQ 76467673 abandoned for the winter. Spoil heaps littered with Ro-tile and dark grey ware sherds, oyster shells and quantities of briquetage. (2) (TQ 76467673) Investigation of salt boiling hearths, revealed large quantities of RB pottery, briquetage and coins of Gratian. The coins indicate late 4th century activity of the marshland. One of the hearths was surrounded by a chalk floor which had four piers of rammed chalk and flint arranged in a square round it. Possibly a building; or a structure connected with salt making. The occupation of the site is tentatively dated late 1st to 4th century (3-6). Additional references (7-9). For site in context with others in inter-tidal zone, see (10). Photographs (11-21).

Historic England, Historic England Archive (Archive). SKE53801.

<1> OS 6" 1964 (OS Card Reference). SKE48373.

<2> F2 FGA 26-OCT-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE43333.

<3> Kent A.R.,10,1967,5-6 (A.Miles & M.J.E.Syddell). (OS Card Reference). SKE45707.

<4> F3 ASP 25-NOV-69 (OS Card Reference). SKE43376.

<5> KAR 22 1970/71 38 (Miles and Syddell) (OS Card Reference). SKE45263.

<6> Arch Cant 85 1970 187-8 (OS Card Reference). SKE35809.

<7> Field report for monument TQ 77 NE 4 - June, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4200.

<8> Field report for monument TQ 77 NE 4 - October, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4201.

<9> Field report for monument TQ 77 NE 4 - November, 1969 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4202.

<10> Department of Archaeology, University of Reading, 1994, Inter-tidal archaeology in Kent, p 28 (Unpublished document). SWX9353.

<11> ROMAN REMAINS FROM FOUR GRAVES Types: BURIAL (Photograph). SKE368.

<12> KILN (Photograph). SKE372.

<13> KILN (POTTERY NO.2) EXCAVATED BY MR MUGERIDGE IN 1920'S. POTTERY SHOWN PROB. INCLUDES SOME VESSELS F (Photograph). SKE370.

<14> POTTERY FROM KILN (ARCHIVE) (Photograph). SKE2.

<15> KILN,POTTERY WITH SKULL (Photograph). SKE371.

<16> POTTERY (KILN) NO.1 (ANOTHER SITE AT TQ 7651 7673) NOT CLEAR IF NO'S 1-6 REFER TO KILNS OR ORIGINAL (Photograph). SKE4.

<17> KILN 4 (POTTERY NO.3) Personae: UNKNOWN PERSONS (Photograph). SKE6.

<18> (POTTERY) KILN NO.4 Personae: UNKNOWN PERSONS (Photograph). SKE5.

<19> KILN (Photograph). SKE517.

<20> KILN SITE (PKR ARCHIVE) (Photograph). SKE367.

<21> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9549.

<22> Arch Cant 45,1933 xlii (OS Card Reference). SKE35169.

<23> Kent Archaeological Society, 1930, Arch Cant 42 pp XLVIII (Bibliographic reference). SKE53800.

<24> Illustrated Lond. News. 24.12.1932 1026 photo. (OS Card Reference). SKE44209.

<25> F1 EG 25-JUN-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE42872.

<26> Arch Cant 85 1970 187-8 (OS Card Reference). SKE35809.

<27> Arch Cant 86 1971 242-3 (OS Card Reference). SKE35868.

<28> Arch Cant 87 1972 240 (Mrs PP Day) (OS Card Reference). SKE35914.

<29> Arch Cant 88 1973 207-8 (A Miles) (OS Card Reference). SKE35934.

<30> Lower Medway Arch Res Group Newsletter 34 1965 (OS Card Reference). SKE46186.

<31> Lower Medway Arch Res Grp Newsletter 55 1967 (A Miles and MJE Syddell) (OS Card Reference). SKE46190.

<32> AP (RAF 540/496 F 4172 (12.5.51) (OS Card Reference). SKE34097.

<33> Letter (R.F. Jessup 24.6.1928) (OS Card Reference). SKE46072.

<34> F. Mugeridge, Eastborough Bungalow, Cooling. (OS Card Reference). SKE41729.

Sources and further reading