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HER Number: | TQ 56 NE 6 |
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Type of record: | Monument |
Name: | Early-medieval cemetery, Southdowns, South Darenth, Sevenoaks |
Early-medieval cemetery. At least 60 graves recorded burial goods include stone and iron implements, bronze brooches, a shield boss, three urns, beads, fibula, a whetstone (3) and a Romano- British jug.
The site lies on the mid to lower west-north-west facing slope of a Downland spur, overlooking the Darent valley. OD 45-50m. Chalk bedroc
Grid Reference: | TQ 5675 6935 |
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Map Sheet: | TQ56NE |
Parish: | HORTON KIRBY AND SOUTH DARENTH, SEVENOAKS, KENT |
Protected Status: | Selected Heritage Inventory for Natural England: Early-medieval cemetery. At least 60 graves recorded burial goods include stone and iron implements, bronze brooches, a shield boss, three urns, beads (2), fibula, a whetstone (3) and a Romano- British jug. |
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[Area centred TQ 5975 6935] An Anglo-Saxon cemetery at Darenth uncovered during 1866-68, extends a quarter of a mile in length, beingsome 200 yards broad. It is situated between the Home for Little Boys and the site of cottages, N of the railway embankment. Graves were first found in 1866 when 11 skeletons were found lying parallel, heads facing West. In 1867 4 or 5 graves were opened close to the railway embankment. R. Coates (3) recorded 8 graves which he saw opened. Later in 1867 about 11 more graves were opened with numerous grave goods. Nearly every skeleton had a knife near the left hip. In 1867-8, Spurrell (1) watched the exacavations and recorded about 60 graves on the embank- ment of the railway. They were shallow cut, lay E-W in chalk and where not devoid of relics were poorly furnished. Finds now in Maidstone Museum, include stone and iron implements, bronze brooches, a shield boss, three urns, beads (2), fibula, a whetstone (3) and a Romano- British jug, the inclusion of which points to an early date.(4) (1-4) The site of the burial ground falls in a typical position on the falsecrest of a ridge overlooking the R Darenth. As suggested by auth 1 it can be centred at TQ 5675 6935, i.e. halfway between the Home for Little Boys and the houses in New Road constructed in c1866-8 (date tablets still to be seen), and alongside the railway.(2) (5) Chronological account of the discovery of the cemetery. (6) Account by R.P. Coates on the discovery of Anglo-Saxon skeletons fromautumn 1866 - 1st June 1867. (7) Account of photographs exhibited by R.P.Coates of the early interments at Darenth, Kent. (8)
Andrew Richardson, 2000, Gazetteer of Anglo-Saxon Cemeteries and Burial-Sites in Kent (Unpublished document). SKE29253.
<1> Arch Cant 18 1889 314 (FCJ Spurrell) (OS Card Reference). SKE34775.
<2> VCH Kent 1 1908 377 (RA Smith) (OS Card Reference). SKE50859.
<3> Gents Mag (Arch Pt II) 1886 185-6 (CR Smith) (OS Card Reference). SKE43581.
<4> Arch of Kent 1930 224 (RF Jessup) (OS Card Reference). SKE36895.
<5> F1 AC 04.08.60 (OS Card Reference). SKE41752.
<6> Gaz of Early AS Burial sites 1964 124 (A Meaney) (OS Card Reference). SKE43536.
<7> Arch J 24 1867 281-2 (RP Coates) (OS Card Reference). SKE36603.
<8> Arch J 25 1868 94 (RP Coates) (OS Card Reference). SKE36604.
<9> Field report for monument TQ 56 NE 6 - August, 1960 (Bibliographic reference). SKE2868.
Cross-ref. | Source description |
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--- | Unpublished document: Andrew Richardson. 2000. Gazetteer of Anglo-Saxon Cemeteries and Burial-Sites in Kent. |
<1> | OS Card Reference: Arch Cant 18 1889 314 (FCJ Spurrell). |
<2> | OS Card Reference: VCH Kent 1 1908 377 (RA Smith). |
<3> | OS Card Reference: Gents Mag (Arch Pt II) 1886 185-6 (CR Smith). |
<4> | OS Card Reference: Arch of Kent 1930 224 (RF Jessup). |
<5> | OS Card Reference: F1 AC 04.08.60. |
<6> | OS Card Reference: Gaz of Early AS Burial sites 1964 124 (A Meaney). |
<7> | OS Card Reference: Arch J 24 1867 281-2 (RP Coates). |
<8> | OS Card Reference: Arch J 25 1868 94 (RP Coates). |
<9>XY | Bibliographic reference: Field report for monument TQ 56 NE 6 - August, 1960. [Mapped feature: #42931 find, ] |