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

Roman and Early Saxon period findspots and possible settlement from a quarry site. Finds of 2nd to 4th century pottery, tiles, animal bones, iron nails and a bronze belt fitting and building remains indicate the site of a possible Roman settlement. Saxon pottery dating to the mid 5th century was also found, possibly indicating a settlement of that date. What may have been the chalk and rubble footings of a building were recorded; the archaeologists concerned with the discovery suggested that quarrying may have destroyed all other traces of buildings. Location accurate to 10m based on available information

Monument Types

• SITE (pottery, footing, iron nails, Roman to Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 100 AD to 466 AD)

Associated Finds

• AXEHEAD (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• NAIL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• POTTERY ASSEMBLAGE (Roman to Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 43 AD to 1065 AD)
• ANIMAL REMAINS (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 410 AD to 1065 AD)

Full description

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

Burchell found Roman pottery & tiles, Saxon pottery and animal bones, all unstratified; in a chalk-cut hollow, diameter 5 ft., depth 2 ft. 6", which he excavated at TQ 619738.

The site is at the right side of the entrance to the main chalk quarry, N.E of Northfleet Sewage Works. Brailsford dates the Roman pottery, (some 13 sherds), to 2nd- 4th.C., seven sherds showing Romano-Belgic-Marnian-type ornament.

Myres(a) identified Early Saxon sherds (Mid. 5th.C) similar to those at the adjacent Saxon cemetery (TQ 67 SW42). There were, also, nine sherds of rusticated ware, comparable with the coarse, carinated pots of Marnian La Tene and of the same group as examples at Ixworth (Ro. Villa?), suggesting a Romano-British relationship. See AO/59/146/1, 2. (a) (1) TQ 618739.

Roman level seen in the face of the disused quarry extending over 100 ft. at a depth of 30 ins. below ground level. Potsherds, all 4th c., iron nails and a bronze belt fitting were found. A chalk and rubble footing about 15 ft. long was the only structural detail noticed. "In all probability the level had been associated with buildings known to have been destroyed when the chalk pits were dug." (2) Major Burchell confirmed his siting (1). This part of the chalk quarry is completley overgrown and nothing was found. Additional references (4 - 6).

Location accurate to 10m based on available information

<1> J.N.L. Myres. (OS Card Reference). SKE44838.

<2> ANT.J. 28, 1948, 186-9 illust. (J.P.T. Burchell & J.W.Brailsford) (OS Card Reference). SKE33241.

<3> Arch.Cant. 73, 1958, 193-4 (B.J.Philp & M.L. Kellaway) (OS Card Reference). SKE37177.

<4> F1 ASP 20-JAN-65 (OS Card Reference). SKE42206.

<5> Field report for monument TQ 67 SW 52 - January, 1965 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3680.

<6> Oxford Archaeological Unit, 1995 Feb, South Thames-Side Development Route IV (Unpublished document). SWX6940.

Sources and further reading