Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A large Iron Age enclosure with a Roman temple located in the northern part. The temple was excavated in 1925 and Middle and Late Iron Age material was also found at this time. The enclosure was identified from aerial photographs in 1984 and investigated between 1985 and 1989.

Monument Types

• SETTLEMENT (SETTLEMENT, Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
• TEMPLE (TEMPLE, Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)

Associated Finds

• MINIATURE OBJECT (Iron Age - 800 BC? to 42 AD?)
• COIN (Middle Iron Age to Roman - 150 BC to 409 AD)
• STATUE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)

Full description

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[TR 33535568] ROMAN TEMPLE [R] (Site of) [NAT] (1) A Roman temple site was excavated in 1925 in Castle Field, Worth, when evidence for three previous occupations of this site was uncovered:- 1. Iron Age 'A' 2. La Tene belonging to or closely related to the Marne culture (c Mid C3rd BC). 3. Belgic in C1st BC and AD. (2,3) The temple may be incorrectly sited on OS maps. If the small square on the SW side of the road on Klein's plan represents the milestone at TR 33515543 [even though it is on the wrong side of the road], then the scale is wrong and the temple would fall well to the S [at about TR 33595543]. At this point on the ground there are signs of disturbance and a few Roman sherds and perhaps ploughed-down spoil heaps have been noted. (4) There are two possible sitings, the first ('K1' - TR 3353 5568) as published by the OS from Klein's plan, using the scale given, and the second ('K2' - TR 3359 5543) also from Klein's plan but ignoring the given scale and substituting as control the distance from the milestone to the road fork. Nothing significant was found at either, but it seems likely that 'K2' is correct:- 1. Klein says that the site was on rising ground on the land of a Mr Durban. This land, according to Mr Bean of Links Farm (since before 1925) was a triangle with its apex at the road fork and its base a line between the milestone and the N end of King George Villas. This would contain 'K2' but not 'K1', and only the former is on rising ground. 2. Mr Bean remembers the excavation to have been at approximately 'K2', as also does another old local farmer, Mr Larkins of Homestead Farm (independently). The present farmers (Mr Bean for 'K2' and Mr Birch of Downs Court Farm for 'K1') have never noticed any remains during ploughing at either site. Mr Southam of Thatched Cottage, Mill Lane, Ham, Worth is intending to probe both sites in the near future. (5) TR 335 558. This is listed by Lewis as a country temple. It was built on the site of a pre-Roman building, possibly a shrine, two post holes and Belgic pottery having been found. The temple 52 ft 8 in by 51 ft 5in with a cella about 26 ft square had two phases; the first building was apparently destroyed and then rebuilt with sculpture and old tiles in the floor. No terminal dates for these structures are known but both phases were probably contained in the C4th. (6) Work undertaken by Dover Archaeological Group in the late 1980s supports the location of the temple at TR 335553. (7)

Investigations by Dover Archaeological Group around the site of the Roman temple at Worth during 1985-89 revealed the existence of a large enclosure centred around TR 337552. The enclosure measured some 250m NW-SE by perhaps 400m NE-SW, covering an estimated 7 hectares, with an entrance at the south east side towards the southern corner of the enclosure. The enclosure was defined by a flat-bottomed ditch between 2.25 and 4.40m wide and 0.61 to 1.60m deep, examined in a series of hand-dug trenches. Dating evidence, including Late Iron Age coins from the area suggests that this may have been an enclosure defining a sanctuary, predating the late Roman temple, which lies within the enclosure close to the north side. The Thanet and Wantsum Relic Association carried out searches in the 1980s on the fields east and south of the temple site. It is not clear how many of the recorded finds from the area correspond with those produced during this work. In total c.232 coins were reported, 199 of which were Roman. Of the Iron Age coins, some were copper alloy coins dating to c.150 BC. One was of Aminus or Adminius. The Roman coins span the full Roman period. (10)

Three miniature votive copper alloy sheilds were found during the 1925 excavation. (2 and 11)

From the Register of Scheduled Monuments:

Chalk footings of a Romano-Celtic temple, excavated in 1925. Cella about 28ft square and ambulatory about 52ft square externally. Use of the temple appears to continue until at least the mid 4th century, but a fairly extensive Early Iron Age occupation level below the temple suggests a long anterior history for the site. (12)

The temple was first exposed in the 18th century. William Boys records and illustrates a plan of the building exposed by workmen, possibly under his direction. He thought the building to be an exploratory tower with an outwork. (13)

Six fragments were found of a stone sculpture. These included the left hand resting on the rim of a shield, the right holding a spearhead, pieces of spear shaft and 'fragments of the statue'. It is suggested that the image was of Minerva. (2)

Monitoring of foundation trenching recorded two small ditches and a large pit (15)

From the National Heritage List for England:

List entry Description
Summary of Monument
Iron Age occupation site and Romano-Celtic temple 500m south-east of Upton House.



Reasons for Designation
The Iron Age occupation site south of Worth is thought to be an Iron Age shrine, preceding a later Romano-Celtic temple. Prehistoric shrines date mainly to the later Iron Age (300 BC-AD 43) and are usually smaller than Romano-Celtic temples, with an often timber-built, rectangular or circular cella surrounded by an open or enclosed, variably-shaped temenos. Some shrines, such as the example at Maiden Castle in Dorset, are sited within contemporary hillforts or settlements, although others are set apart in more isolated areas. Evidence from excavated examples suggests that the temenos often contained pits within which votive offerings, including pottery, coins, and metal objects, were deposited. Around 20 prehistoric shrines have been recorded nationally, with a distribution confined to south eastern and central southern England. As such a rare monument type, all examples with significant surviving remains are considered to be of national importance.

Romano-Celtic temples were built to meet the spiritual needs of the communities they served by venerating the god or spirit considered to dwell in a particular place. The temple building was regarded as the treasure house of its deity and priests rather than as a congregational building and any religious activities, including private worship, communal gatherings, sanctuary and healing, took place outside.

Romano-Celtic temples included the temple building and a surrounding sacred precinct or temenos which could be square, circular, rectangular or polygonal in ground plan. The temple building invariably faced due east and was the focus of the site, although it did not necessarily occupy the central position in the temenos. It comprised a cella, or inner temple chamber, an ambulatory or walkway around the cella, and sometimes annexes or antechambers. The buildings were constructed of a variety of materials, including stone, cob and timber, and walls were often plastered and painted both internally and externally. Some temenoi enclosed other buildings, often substantial and built in materials and styles similar to those of the temple; these are generally interpreted as priests' houses, shops or guest houses.

Romano-Celtic temples were built and used throughout the Roman period from the mid first century AD to the late fourth/early fifth century AD, with individual examples being used for relatively long periods of time. They were widespread throughout southern and eastern England, although there are no examples in the far south west and they are rare nationally with only about 150 sites recorded in England. In view of their rarity and their importance in contributing to the complete picture of Roman religious practice, including its continuity from Iron Age practice, all Romano-Celtic temples with surviving archaeological potential are considered to be of national importance.

The Iron Age occupation site and Romano-Celtic temple south of Worth survive well, retaining archaeological and environmental evidence relating to the occupation site and the temple and the landscape in which they were constructed. The temple and Iron Age site have only been partially excavated and will retain potential for further archaeological investigation. The close association of the earlier occupation remains, a possible shrine, and the later temple will provide information about the continuity of religious practice during the later Iron Age and Roman period in this part of Kent.

History
See Details.

Details
This record was the subject of a minor enhancement on 17 March 2015. This record has been generated from an "old county number" (OCN) scheduling record. These are monuments that were not reviewed under the Monuments Protection Programme and are some of our oldest designation records.

The monument includes an Iron Age occupation site and Romano-Celtic temple surviving as buried remains. It is situated on a slight ridge between Ham Brooks Wood and North Stream, south of Worth. The chalk footings of the Romano-Celtic temple have been recorded following partial excavation. The cella is about 8.5m square and the surrounding ambulatory is about 16m long by 15.5m wide. The temple is thought to have been built in two phases; after the first building was destroyed another temple was built re-using building material, including stone sculpture and tiles, in the flooring.

Beneath the temple evidence of Iron Age occupation has been found including two post holes, which are thought to be part of an Iron Age timber inner shrine and indicated by votive offerings. The site was partially excavated in 1925 and 1985-9. A broad range of Iron Age pottery was found indicating three successive periods of occupation prior to the Roman period; in the Early Iron Age, again in the mid-third century BC and in the first century BC and AD. Nearly 100 Late Iron Age coins have been found in the immediate vicinity of the temple. These date from about 100 BC to 43 AD and are from tribes such as the Cantii, Trinovantes, Ambiani and the Atrebates. The coins may be votive offerings associated with the possible Iron Age shrine.

Further archaeological remains survive in the vicinity of this monument but are not included because they have not been formally accessed. To the south of the site is part of an Iron Age oviod enclosure probably forming a temenos or sacred precinct, a mid-first century AD cremation cemetery, a fifth century AD inhumation cemetery and two Iron Age pits.(14)

<1> OS 25", 1957 (OS Card Reference). SKE48286.

<2> W. G. Klein, 1928, Roman Temple at Worth, Kent, The Antiquaries Journal Volume VIII: 76-86 (Article in serial). SKE25941.

<3> Antquaries Journ 20, 1940, 115-21 (C F C Hawkes) (OS Card Reference). SKE33301.

<4> Letter (S E Rigold, 1.10.64) (OS Card Reference). SKE46079.

<5> Antiquaries Journ 8, 1928, 76, sketch plan (W G Klein) (OS Card Reference). SKE33264.

<6> F1 CFW 22-APR-65 (OS Card Reference). SKE42700.

<7> Temples in Roman Britain 1966 7,8,13,54,141,158,170 (MJT Lewis) (OS Card Reference). SKE49828.

<8> Field report for monument TR 35 NW 27 - April, 1965 (Bibliographic reference). SKE6048.

<9> [WORTH ROMAN TEMPLE] (Collection). SKE6503.

<10> Dover Archaeological Group, 1990, Brief Report on the Excavations by Dover Archaeological Group in the Area of the Roman Temple at Worth, in Kent, Brief Report on the Excavations by Dover Archaeological Group in the area of the Roman Temple at Wor (Unpublished document). SKE11891.

<11> Archaeologia Cantiana, 1928, The Kent Archaeological Society Report for the Year Ending 31st December 1927, xlvii (Article in serial). SKE24070.

<12> English Heritage, Register of Scheduled Monuments (Scheduling record). SKE16191.

<13> William Boys, 1788-92, Collections for an history of Sandwich in Kent : With notices of the other Cinque Ports and members, and of Richborough, 869-870 (Bibliographic reference). SKE24071.

<14> Historic England, National Heritage List for England (Index). SKE29372.

<15> Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 2001, Britannia 32, p 385 (Article in serial). SKE54842.

Sources and further reading

Related records

Related thematic articles

• Iron Age Kent (Thematic Essay)