Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Site of a Roman Villa was initially found 1833. Two tessallated floors and two Roman ragstone and flint structures were discovered in both 1833 and 1933 and finally excavated in 1958 during the construction of the Maidstone bypass. The first building contained evidence of occupation from the 1st to the 4th centuries. The other was an outbuilding. The main dwelling was found later in 1960. Further work to understand the site took place as part of the CTRL works.

Monument Types

• TESSELLATED FLOOR (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• VILLA (Proto-villa and full villa constructed c. end of the 1st century AD, Roman - 43 AD to 100 AD)
• HEARTH (metalworking hearths within villa building, Roman - 250 AD to 409 AD)

Associated Finds

• BEAD (Undated)
• HINGE (Unknown date)
• SETTING (Undated)
• SPINDLE WHORL (Unknown date)
• ANIMAL REMAINS (Late Iron Age to Roman - 100 BC to 409 AD)
• CEREAL GRAIN (Late Iron Age to Roman - 100 BC to 409 AD)
• COIN (Late Iron Age to Roman - 100 BC to 409 AD)
• MILLSTONE (Late Iron Age to Roman - 100 BC? to 409 AD?)
• OYSTER SHELL (Late Iron Age to Roman - 100 BC? to 409 AD?)
• POTTERY ASSEMBLAGE (Late Iron Age to Roman - 100 BC to 409 AD)
• ROTARY QUERN (Late Iron Age to Roman - 100 BC? to 409 AD?)
• SLAG (Late Iron Age to Roman - 100 BC to 409 AD)
• BROOCH (Late Iron Age to Roman - 1 AD? to 199 AD?)
• COUNTER (Late Iron Age to Roman - 1 AD to 199 AD)
• DRESS FASTENER (DRESS) (Late Iron Age to Roman - 1 AD? to 199 AD?)
• INLAY (Late Iron Age to Roman - 1 AD? to 199 AD?)
• NEEDLE? (Late Iron Age to Roman - 1 AD to 199 AD)
• PIN (Late Iron Age to Roman - 1 AD to 199 AD)
• VESSEL (Late Iron Age to Roman - 1 AD to 399 AD)
• BRACELET (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• COSMETIC SPOON (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• HAIR PIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• HAND MIRROR? (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• HOB NAIL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• HUMAN REMAINS (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• MORTAR STONE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• NAIL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• WALL PLASTER (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• WINDOW GLASS (Roman - 300 AD to 399 AD)

Full description

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In 1933 two tessellated floors were excavated on rising ground at Parsonage Farm (see historic OS maps), Thurnham. Associated plaster was of the same design as that found in 1833. (1) [Area centred: TQ 7979 5750] Two Roman ragstone and flint structures possibly belonging to a house traces of which were noted in 1833 and 1933, were excavated in 1958 on the line of a new Maidstone bypass. One contained three apsidal rooms, and occupation material of the first to the fourth century but with signs of reconstruction in the second century. The other was an outbuilding that was much robbed. [See plan AO/61/305/7]. The main dwelling has yet to be found. (2) Thurnham Roman Villa. Excavation report and plans of portion excavated. Area of excavation, centred at TQ 7978 5715, plotted from reproduction of plan. (3) The site of this excavation falls within the limits of the Maidstone-by-pass motorway at the commencement of a cutting. There is nothing to be seen in the pasture fields adjoining the site. (4) (TQ 79815714) ROMAN VILLA (R) (site of) (NAT) (5) Additional authorities. (6-8) Additional bibliography. (9-10)

A large rectilinear enclosure, containing one definite roundhouse and two possible roundhouse/four-post structures was established in the Late Iron Age. Early post-conquest remodelling saw the enclosure levelled and replaced with a larger enclosure containing a proto-villa. A possible temple or shrine was added shortly afterwards, overlying the former enclosure ditch. Further development saw the proto-villa replaced by a stone, two-storey villa at the end of the 1st century. By the early 3rd century this had developed into a large winged corridor villa with a bath suite attached to the south side. The 'temple' structure remained in use throughout this period and was accompanied by the construction of a large aisled building within the core of the estate. Access to the villa was by a cobbled trackway, approaching from the east, past a large, 14-post structure, probably of agricultural function. This building was demolished and replaced, by the 3rd century, with a stone-built corndrier. Two wells were investigated, one of which was excavated to 3.7m without locating the bottom. Both were stone-lined at the top and the lower portion of the deeply excavated one was supported by a timber box-frame.

The final occupation on the site saw the demise of the villa complex towards the end of the 3rd century AD and into the 4th. By this time the temple structure had already collapsed or been demolished, and the character of occupation in the main villa had changed substantially (one of the central rooms was used extensively as an iron smithy). Several coins of Constantine were recovered, generally from the upper fills of defunct features, representing the latest evidence for Roman activity on the site of the villa (11).

(See TQ 75 NE 373 and TQ 75 NE 375)

See also (12 and 13).

Post-excavation assessment identified 6 phases of development over the Roman period. Permanent occupation of the site began during the C1st BC which included a ditch and tree clearance. Two gullies representing roundhouses and two 4-post structures were also built during this period (50 BC -AD 50). The next phase (AD 50-120) concerns the 'substantial' remodelling of the site. The Iron Age ditches were levelled with clay (one completely, one partly). The proto-villa was built partly over the line of one of the backfilled ditches and a new more substantial, ditch was dug. A timber palisade or fence line accompanied this new ditch. Only the rear part of the proto-villa has survived. Sleeper beams had been set upon a basal plinth of flint nodules laid directly onto the soil and clay back fill. Three central rooms were defined by flint nodule plinths with additional rooms, possibly wings, at either end. The wings had floor surfaces. Thin painted plaster was recovered from the surface of the floors and the voids of the sleeper beams. The beams were presumably removed following the construction of the stone villa which replaced the 'proto-villa'.

A rectangular building was built on the line of the former enclosure ditch. The pottery of the clay dates to a time post c.AD 50 and it is thought to be contemporary with the proto-villa. This building is thought to have been a temple with ragstone block foundations. The floor surfaces were of crushed tile, chalk and flint cobbles.

The north side of the enclosure was defined by a post-row and a gully which enlarged the size of the former enclosure. This boundary was replaced shortly afterwards (c.AD 70) by a re-cut Late Iron Age ditch which was extended northwards.

The next phase is dated c.AD 120-150. Around c.120-125, a larger, stone villa was built, replacing the proto-villa and a boundary ditch was levelled to enable the new villa to be built behind the proto-villa. It seems that the proto-villa remained standing while the new stone villa was being built and the former was only demolished after the core of the new building had been completed.

Alternating layers of ragstone blocks and flint nodules were packed with clay and the depth suggests that they may have supported a 2-storey building. There were no internal features or floor levels contemporary with this occupation of the building. It is possible that the floors of this phase consisted of slightly raised wooden planking. A boundary ditch was added to the rear or west of the villa, enlarging the enclosure and was accompanied by a fence line. Within the complex to the east of the villa a large aisled building was constructed, probably during the mid C2nd AD (partly over the Iron Age ditch). 12 massive postholes supported the aisled building. A partition between the two western postholes defined a separate room within which there was an oven upon a tufa floor. Ash deposits were found on the floor surface.

A circular stone-lined well surrounded by a cobbled surface was located to NW of the aisled building. 4 Early Roman pottery sherds were recovered from the backfill of the well shaft which had ceased to be used by the mid C4th AD. The Eastern boundary of the villa enclosure was redefined by a substantial fence and each post was securely packed with large ragstone blocks.

Around AD 150-200 there occurred the final structural additions to the villa. These included the addition of a wing room to the NE end of the building. The Eastern wall of the earlier rear projecting wing was removed and replaced to the west at this time. A range of rooms was added along the rear of the villa. The final addition to the main house was a large square room and apse adjoining the new wing room at the NE end. This was done post AD 180 (based on debris used to backfill and level pit).

The Eastern enclosure boundary post row was, in part, replaced by a new ditch a long the eastern side of the temple. The pottery from the ditch fills is dated to the Flavian period.

At the S.E. end of the enclosure, during the late C2nd, a large 14 post timber structure was built. There were associated drainage gullies and channel and it seems to have been an agricultural building. A circular stone-lined well to the east of this building. A cobbled trackway approaching the villa complex from the East seems to have been established by this period and continued in used in the C3rd and C4th centuries.

The villa was in decline c.AD 200-50. The bath house range may have been built by the early C3rd. The temple fell into disuse during this period, infilling a ditch with large quantities of tegulae and imbrices. The aisled building also seems to have been no longer occupied by the mid C3rd.

The next phase (late C3rd to C4th) saw a change in occupation with the room in the centre of the villa complex becoming an area for iron smithing. The 14 post timber structure may have been demolished or removed as a corn-driver was constructed over some of the postholes, or the building may have been altered to accommodate these changes. Part of the corn-drier consisted of re-used tufa blocks, possibly from the bath house range (the latter went out of use in the late C3rd). The corn-drier itself ceased to be used by AD 370. In the later C4th an oven was backfilled with burnt debris.

Cluster of late C4th/C5th pottery around the cobbled area near the corn-drier.

Hazel stakes placed around the circumference of the shaft lining of the well - one stake had radiocarbon date AD 259-539.

Hocker's Lane - three phases identified 1. Late Iron Age (c.AD 1 - 50),; 2. Pre-=Flavian enclosure re-cut (c.AD 40-60) and 3. (relating to the features at Chainage 62+800) c.AD 60 -200. These periods were identified via pottery.

Overall, 561 sherds of Late Iron Age pottery were found, with 883 sherds of Late Ironage and Early Roman pottery found at Hocker's Lane and Chainage 62+800. The earlier pottery was dominated by local glauconitic sand tempered ware with smaller quantities of 'Belgic' grog-tempered fabrics. Terra Rubra and Patchgrove ware were also identified.

49 sherds of Roman pottery (C1st/2nd) from trackway ditch and surrounding soil in Hocker's Lane

Phase 3 of villa (AD 50-120) produced a total of 2609 sherds from 91 contexts. Limited amount of south Gaulish Samian and other imported finewares.

Phases 4- to 6 (AD 120-250) - 3910 sherds of pottery found. Mostly 'local' (from north Kent) pottery.

Phase 7 (AD 250-400+) - 1933 sherds. Localised pottery and from AD 370+ pottery restricted to the oven within the main villa. Wheel-turned coarse and finewares from Kent gradually disappear and replaced by finewares from Oxfordshire and coarseware from the Alice Holt/Farnham and Overwey kilns around Hampshire/Surrey.

Plaster and lime mortar recovered is all Roman - some probable opus signinum and wall renderings as well as roofing mortar and wall plaster.

18 potential rotary querns or millstone fragments found. Made from Hertforshires Puddingstone, Lava, Greensand and Millstone Grit. Also, 50 small fragments of friable weathered lava fragments. 4 Whetstones - 2 in ironstone and 2 Greensand. Querns/millstones considered to be Romano-British in date.

Fragment of spindle whorl found on cobbled road surface outside aisled building.

Calcareous tufa, of Roman date. 11 blocks with cut faces (probably reused)

Roman glass - 84 fragments from vessels (C1st-4th AD, mostly, C1st/2nd), 1 fragment from a C4th window pane , 6 beads and 1 setting from an item of jewellery.

2 Iron Age and 49 Roman coins recovered from the villa. Roman coins covered the period from C1st to 4th AD. High incidence of early C4th AD coins. Silver siliqua of Honorius (AD 395-402).

Single Iron Age, bronze potin dated to first half of the C1st BC found at Hocker's Lane.

Metalwork - 1073 items - 795 iron nails from the villa and nail and single copper alloy fragment from Hocker's Lane. Thurnham assemblage includes 51 personal items, 7 toilet implements, 6 items of household equipment, 8 items associated with transport, 25 knives and tools and 49 fasteners and fittings. Individual items associated with recreation, agriculture and writing. 2 pieces of copper allor from figurines or statuary. Bowl handle and a lunulate horse harness pendant. Other unidentified fragments. Mostly 1st/2nd date with one item only which may be C4th.

Iron slag. Phase 2 (Late Iron Age) and then generally absent until phase 7 when the smithy appears in the villa throughout the C3rd.

Worked bone - 12 items. 5 fittings and inlays from boxes and other pieces of furniture, four hair pin, one shaft fragment from a hair pin or needle and 2 counters. Dated material identified as C1st/2nd AD.

91 pieces of worked and unworked wood from waterlogged deposits. Included oak planks and timber as well as stakes in the well.

Human remains - 2 infant skeletons and single deposit of cremated human bone. Cremated remains undated but might be Bronze Age due to proximity to water-hole. One infant was buried in wooden coffin placed in stone-lined cist and three course of limestone. 2 pottery vessels 9 (Thameside greyware pentice beaker and BB2 straight-sided dish of Monaghan type 5E1.5 dated to c.AD170-230), a flint flake and a portion of cattle rib accompanied this infant. Gnaw marks found on bone. Second infant found on the top of the fill of the proto-villa boundary ditch. Pottery from the top of the fill datable to AD 70-100.

Animal bone - 7085 fragments. Variable types in all phases. Cattle and sheep dominate the Late Iron Age/Roman period Latest Roman assemblages from phase 7 suggest that pig was now the preferred species. Some bone found down the well included a roe deer, tawny owl, pig, and a horse skull.

Cereal remains (over 1000) included hulled barley, spelt wheat, emmer wheat and oats. Pulses and flax also found. Emmer wheat and barley also found at Hocker's Lane.

Snails found in late Roman well fills. Only small quantities of oyster shells. (14-15)

Additional bibliography. (16-18)

The sites was formerly a Scheduled Monument but this was revoked on 20/4/15.

Paul Ashbee,1986, 1986, Roman Building Remnant at Thurnham (Article in serial). SKE29289.

<1> JRS 24 1934 217 (R G Collingwood and M V Taylor) (OS Card Reference). SKE45069.

<2> JRS 49 1959 135 (OS Card Reference). SKE45111.

<3> Arch Cant 74 1960 162-170 plans and photos (E Pirie) (OS Card Reference). SKE35555.

<4> F1 CFW 22.11.61 (OS Card Reference). SKE42696.

<5> OS 1:10000 1982 (OS Card Reference). SKE48168.

<6> VCH Kent 3 1932 173 (OS Card Reference). SKE51108.

<7> Archaeologia 30 1844 536 (T Charles) (OS Card Reference). SKE37311.

<8> Arch Cant 72 1958 225 (E Pirie) (OS Card Reference). SKE35517.

<9> The Archaeology of Kent 1930 263 (R F Jessup) (OS Card Reference). SKE50082.

<10> DOE (IAM) Ams Eng 2 1978 110 (OS Card Reference). SKE40686.

<11> Oxford Archaeological Unit, 1999, Thurnham Roman Villa, Thurnham, Kent Detailed Archaeological Works Interim Report Final (Unpublished document). SKE7014.

<12> Stratascan Geophysical & Specialist Survey Services, 1995, A report for Oxford Archaeological Unit on a Geophysical Survey carried out at Thurnham Roman Villa. (Unpublished document). SKE7016.

<13> Oxford Archaeological Unit, 1997, Thurnham Roman Villa and Land to the South of Corbier Hall, Thurnham, Kent Archaeological Evaluation Report (Unpublished document). SKE7015.

<14> Oxford Archaeological Unit, 2001, Thurnham Roman villa, post-excavation assessment report, Thurnham. (Unpublished document). SKE13710.

<15> Oxford Archaeological Unit, 2001, Thurnham Roman villa, post-excavation assessment report - data tables. (Unpublished document). SKE13711.

<16> Oxford Wessex Archaeology Joint Venture, 2006, The Iron Age settlement and Roman Villa at Thurnham, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE16390.

<17> Oxford Wessex Archaeology Joint Venture, 2005, The Late Iron Age and Roman Pottery from Excavations Along Section 1 of the CTRL (Unpublished document). SKE16488.

<18> Oxford Wessex Archaeology Joint Venture, 2006, Radiocarbon dates from Section 1 of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE16490.

Sources and further reading

Related records

Related thematic articles

• Roman Kent (Thematic Essay)