Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A well-preserved example of a tidal water mill dating to sometime between 684 and 720 AD. It was found in association with a mill pond, water trough and wattle revetments/fish traps. The dual-chuted construction of the mill and the size of the wheel-pit suggests that horizontal wheels would have powered the mill. it does not seem to have been use for long before it was demolished possibly due to rising water level and silting. A number of the timbers are currently under conservation. Preliminary investigation has revealed a number of axe marks and on one of the larger chute timbers compass marks; evidence of the use of geometry.

The mill pond was created by exploiting a natural flooding of the backwater.

Location accurate to 2m based on available information.

Images

Monument Types

• MILL POND (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 691 AD to 720 AD)
• WATERMILL (Abandoned, Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 691 AD? to 720 AD? (at some time))

Full description

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During archaeological investigations associated with the Channel Tunnel Rail Line in 2001-2003, and in particular the investigation of the Roman wharves associated with Northfleet Roman villa, which lies c. 30 m to the south, the archaeologists discovered a well preserved example of a tidal water mill dating to sometime between 684 and 720 AD (probably AD 691/2) and lasting for c. 30 years. It was found in association with a mill pond, water trough and wattle revetments/fish traps. The dual chuted construction of the mill had the size of the wheel-pit suggests that horizontal wheels would have powered the mill.

The pond was created by exploiting a natural flooding of the backwater. The west end of the pond was definied by a natural islet which was partially revetted during the Roman period. To the south the pond edge was defined by the natural terrace. The east end, upon which the mill was built was consolidated with wooden stakes and reinforced with revetments made of wooden stakes clad with wattle screens. (3)

Location accurate to 2m based on available information.

<1> Oxford Archaeology, 2003, Ebbsfleet Valley Detailed Mitigation Works, Northfleet, Kent: Interim Statement (Unpublished document). SKE12256.

<2> Rail Link Engineering, 2003, CTRL SECTION 2: ARCHAEOLOGY PROGRAMME EBBSFLEET MILL - PROVISIONAL REPORT ON THE RECORDING, SAMPLING AND CLEANING OF THE ANGLO-SAXON AND ROMAN TIMBERS (Unpublished document). SKE12258.

<3> Oxford Wessex Archaeology Joint Venture, 2010, Settling the Ebbsfleet Valley. CTRL Excavations at Springhead and Northfleet, Kent. The Late Iron Age, Roman, Saxon, and Medieval Landscape (Unpublished document). SKE31245.

<4> Oxford Wessex Archaeology Joint Venture, 2011, Settling the Ebbsfleet Valley. CTRL Excavations at Springhead and Northfleet, Kent. Volume 4: Saxon and Later Finds and Environmental Reports (Monograph). SKE32437.

Sources and further reading

Related records