Exploring Kent's Past

It should not be assumed that this site is publicly accessible and it may be on private property. Do not trespass.

Monument details

Summary

A Roman temple (Temple 2) was uncovered during excavations carried out in the 1950s and 1960s at Springhead. It is part of a larger Roman religious complex and settlement and is one of six possible temples discovered within a walled temple complex. (location accurate to the nearest 10m based on available information)

Monument Types

• TEMPLE (Roman - 200 AD? to 350 AD?)

Associated Finds

• BEAD (Roman - 200 AD? to 350 AD?)
• BOWL (Roman - 200 AD? to 350 AD?)
• CANDLE HOLDER (Roman - 200 AD? to 350 AD?)
• COIN (Roman - 200 AD? to 350 AD?)
• INCENSE BOWL (Roman - 200 AD? to 350 AD?)
• KEY (LOCKING) (Roman - 200 AD? to 350 AD?)
• NEEDLE (Roman - 200 AD? to 350 AD?)
• PIN (Roman - 200 AD? to 350 AD?)
• PLATE (Roman - 200 AD? to 350 AD?)
• RING (Roman - 200 AD? to 350 AD?)
• SHERD (Roman - 200 AD? to 350 AD?)
• STUD (Roman - 200 AD? to 350 AD?)
• TWEEZERS (Roman - 200 AD? to 350 AD?)
• WIRE (Roman - 200 AD? to 350 AD?)

Full description

If you do not understand anything on this page please contact us.

A Roman temple (Temple 2) was uncovered during excavations carried out in the 1950s and 1960s at Springhead. It is part of a larger Roman religious complex and settlement and is one of six possible temples discovered within a walled temple complex. Temple 2 was located immediately to the south of Temple 1, separated from it by less than 1m and connected to it by means of a curtain wall. Temple 2 is later than Temple 1 (which was originally constructed in c. A.D. 90) but is contemporary with a second phase of construction that included the wings which dates to c. A.D. 200. It is probable that the two buildings were in use simultaneously for the last 150 years of their lives. As is the case with the other temples discovered in the complex, this building was erected on a chalk raft about 40cm thick. The temple is a concentric square type but is unusual in that the cella walls have been replaced by tiled plinths. There are 9 in total, and their substantial nature suggests that they would have supported a heavy load, possibly stone or brick pillars. There was no wall between the columns indicating an open cloister like arrangement. One of the plinths was larger than the others and may have held a cult statue base. The walls around the ambulatory were about 50cm thick and were of one build with the walls of the wings. They were rendered externally with red painted plaster which survived in-situ in some locations. The inner walls of the wings appear to have been covered with tile. A clayey soil was discovered across most of the site (though the wings lacked any floor) over which was a well made chalk block, concrete and red tesserae. Only a small section of the floor survived in the south western corner. A pebbled courtyard was situated outside the front (eastern side) of the temple within which stood a tiled alter base. This alter, the podium the building was constructed on and the columns within the temple suggest that it would have looked very much like a classical temple. This temple is the most structurally interesting of those so far discovered at Springhead and it is unique among them. (1-2) The Importance of these features and the form of this building is discussed in depth within the source. (2) A concentration of finds were discovered along the western wall of the temple (the side which also possibly contained a statue), many of which were likely votive. The finds are fully discussed in the sourced but included several groups of coins, three face urns, six bracelets, some small beads and a large votive pot. Both the finds and the temple itself reflect strong continental influences and parallels have been finds from Gaul. (2)

<1> WS Penn, 1965, Archaeologia Cantiana, Springhead - map of Discoveries (Article in serial). SKE12613.

<2> W. S. Penn, 1958, Archaeologia Cantiana - The Romano British Settlement at Springhead, Excavataion of the Watling Street Shop and Pedestal, Site B (Article in serial). SKE53583.

Sources and further reading

Related records