Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Since the nineteenth century it had been suggested that Blacklands may be the site of a Roman villa. Between 1995 and 1997, archaeological investigations were carried out in the area. Early finds included a wide mortared stone wall, a hypocaust built of chalk blocks, fragments of painted plaster and possible mosaic floor fragments. Later finds included six rooms of a large house with an elaborate hypocaust system and evidence of burning, suggesting destruction by fire. Other significant finds were a quantity of 3rd-4th century pottery and two burials of indeterminate date. A geo-resistivity survey suggested that the area contained a large villa complex arranged around courtyards.

Summary from record TR 06 SW 24:

The remains of a Roman villa destroyed by fire are rumoured to be found near Ewell Farm, possibly to the west of the farm near Black Cottages.

Monument Types

• BATH HOUSE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• COURTYARD (Roman - 43 AD? (at some time) to 399 AD? (at some time))
• HYPOCAUST (Roman - 43 AD? (at some time) to 399 AD? (at some time))
• INHUMATION (Roman - 43 AD? (at some time) to 399 AD? (at some time))
• MOSAIC? (Roman - 43 AD? (at some time) to 399 AD? (at some time))
• VILLA (Burnt down ?, Roman - 43 AD (at some time) to 399 AD (at some time))

Associated Finds

• HUMAN REMAINS (Roman to Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 43 AD? to 1065 AD?)
• KEY (LOCKING) (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• KNIFE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• MELON BEAD (Roman - 43 AD to 150 AD)
• MINIATURE OBJECT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• NEEDLE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• NET SINKER (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• POTTERY ASSEMBLAGE (Roman - 43 AD? to 199 AD?)
• STRAP FITTING (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• TESSERA (Roman - 43 AD? to 399 AD?)
• TWEEZERS (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• WALL PAINTING (Roman - 43 AD? to 399 AD?)
• COIN (Roman - 98 AD to 378 AD)
• PLATE BROOCH (Roman - 100 AD to 300 AD)
• STYLUS (Roman - 100 AD to 409 AD)
• TRUMPET BROOCH (Roman - 100 AD to 300 AD)
• PIN (Roman - 150 AD to 300 AD)
• POTTERY ASSEMBLAGE (Roman - 200 AD? to 399 AD?)
• BRACELET (Roman - 275 AD to 400 AD)

Full description

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Black Lands in Ewell, seem to have been the site of a Roman villa which was destroyed by fire. (1)

Observations at Black Lands in Ewell are thought, somewhat vaguely and suspiciously, to be a Roman villa. (2)

May 1995. Location unclear. Gradiometer, resistively survey with core sampling around the area of TR0380061750. Survey has picked up what is believed to be the site of a large villa with a possible circular temple attached. The complex had been destroyed by fire. The core sample produced building debris in the form of bricks, tile and mortar as well as oyster shell. (3)

August - September 1995. Trial trenching did not find any evidence of a complex north of the railway. However trenching south of the railway did uncover a wide mortared stone wall. When the trench was extended part of a substantial hypocaust built of chalk blocks was found closely resembling the one found in 1988 at Orpington by the Kent Archaeological Field Unit. The upper part had been robbed, but the lower part was well preserved with the channels having been filled with fragments of broken tile, mortar, opus signinum and painted wall-plaster. Additionally fragments of tessellated floor were found indicating a building of some status. (3 and 8)

Plaster analysis carried out indicated common colours, however the blue pigment was probably imported Egyptian blue. (3)

Fieldwalking in October, location not known, found in addition to 18-20th century pottery, a quantity of Romano-British pottery sherds mainly 3rd-4th century with only two definitely from the 1st to 2nd century. (3)

In August - September 1996 further work was carried out by the Kent Archaeological Field Unit and local groups. Six rooms of what was likely to have been a large house were revealed. The two principle rooms contained the lower sections of elaborate channelled hypocausts. The site may have been served by a road from Watling Street and a wharf on the Ewell. The building covers an area of 22 x 84m and cores show occupation to a depth of at least 2m covered with a 25cm burnt layer. Outside walls of the complex constructed of flints set into concrete approx 75cm across. A stoke hole was located on the outside east wall filled with ash. Two inhumations found: one in a post hole in the S wall the other in the N wall. Finds recovered by fieldwalking: 44 sherds of C3-4 pot and brick, tile and hypocaust tile. (4, 5)

Geophysical survey by English Heritage in March 1997 around area of earlier excavations. Resistivity and magnetometer surveys confirmed the presence of a villa complex on a grand scale, arranged around two or more courtyards and covering at least 150 m by 100m (3).

Additional ref. (6).

Fieldwalking by Kent Archaeological Field School in 1996/7 found Roman pottery, dating from the 1st to the mid 4th century. (8)

In 2007 and 2008 the Kent Archaeological Field School excavated part of the site, exposing remains of a number of buildings. The hypocaust was exposed again. Late Iron Age pottery may indicate a pre-Roman phase of activity. The earliest building on the site appears to have been a timber-framed structure, evidenced by a sill beam slot. A well was also dug on the site in the early-mid Roman period. Subsequently, the heated structure was built, interpreted as a bath house. Fragments of mosaic were found. In the post-Roman period, a large timber structure appears to have been built on the site, two sherds of pottery were either of Middle Saxon or 5th century date. The Roman structure was possibly being robbed in the medieval period.

A second Roman structure was investigated, also interpreted as a bath house, dated to the 2nd century. The structure was rebuilt later in the Roman period but fell out of use before the end of the period. Post Roman pottery was found, dating to between c. AD 650 and 850.

A large depression filled with demolition material deposited in the 4th century has been interpreted as a theatre. The lowest part of the feature appears to have had a metalled surface. A structure, interpreted as the stage, was also found. (8)

Description from record TR 06 SW 24:
Blacklands in Ewell seems to have been the site of a Roman Villa which was destroyed by fire. A medal of the younger Faustina was discovered in Ewell Field. (1) At Blacklands in Ewell is thought, somewhat vaguely and suspiciously, to be the site of a Roman villa which was destroyed by fire. (2) Mr Kite, owner of Ewell Farm, does not know of a field by the name of Blacklands, and has not heard of any reference to the site of a Roman villa in the vicinity. There is no place or field name "Blacklands" on the Tithe map for Faversham. (3) The site of "Blacklands" Roman villa may lie to the west of Ewell Farm, near "Black Cottages" (shown on O.S. 1:10000 1976 at TR 0306 6105) (see also TR 06 SW 23). (4)

<1> Arch Cant 9 1874 lxxii Roman Remains discovered in and near Faversham (George Bedo) (OS Card Reference). SKE36013.

<1> Anon, 1874, Roman Remains Discovered In and Near Faversham, Arch Cant 1880 (Article in serial). SKE11926.

<2> Arch Cant 9 lxxii (OS Card Reference). SKE36022.

<2> Page, W. (ed), 1932, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Kent Volume III, p94 (Monograph). SKE7810.

<3> VCH Kent 3 1932 94 (R E M Wheeler) (OS Card Reference). SKE51145.

<3> Wilkinson, P et al, 1995 - 1997, Blacklands Roman Villa Site Papers and Correspondence, Geophysical Survey Plot by English Heritage 1996 (Excavation archive). SKE11927.

<3> Wilkinson, P et al, 1995 - 1997, Blacklands Roman Villa Site Papers and Correspondence, Notes by Paul Wilkinson supplied to KCC 1995-6 (Excavation archive). SKE11927.

<3> Wilkinson, P et al, 1995 - 1997, Blacklands Roman Villa Site Papers and Correspondence, Plaster analysis report by Robin W Sanderson, copy from P Wilkinson to KCC 1996 (Excavation archive). SKE11927.

<3> Ancient Monuments Laboratory, 1997, Blacklands Roman Site, School Farm, Ewell, Nr Faversham (Unpublished document). SKE11929.

<4> F1 ASP 07-JUL-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE41981.

<4> Philp, B. J., 2002, Archaeology in the Front Line: 50 Years of Kent Rescue 1952 - 2002, p181 - 183 (Monograph). SKE11928.

<5> Field report for monument TR 06 SW 23 - July, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE5298.

<5> Philp, B. J., 1996, Roman Building Discovered Nr Faversham, B Philp 'Roman Building Discovered nr Faversham'(KAR 123 Spring 1996) (Article in serial). SKE11930.

<6> Wilkinson, P., 1997, Blacklands Villa, School Farm, near Faversham (Unpublished document). SWX7152.

<7> 1979, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11431.

<7> Philp, B. J., 1998, Roman Villas in the Swale Area (Article in serial). SWX7651.

<8> Kent Archaeological Field School, 2012, The Roman Religious Sanctuary at ‘Blacklands’, School Farm, Graveney Road, Faversham, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE18078.

Sources and further reading