Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Romano-British cremation burials are indicated by urns found in 1715 below the foundations of a warehouse at the junction of Earl Street (then Bullock Lane) and Pudding Lane. The urns are said to have contained ashes, and human remains were scattered nearby. In 1932 Romano-British burial groups were uncovered during the relaying of a gas main in the roadway at the Earl Street end of Havock Lane, and in the subsequent construction of Museum Street.

Monument Types

• CREMATION (CREMATION, Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)

Associated Finds

• BURIAL URN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• CUP (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• FLAGON (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• FLASK (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• HUMAN REMAINS (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• JAR (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• DISH (Roman - 100 AD to 125 AD)
• CINERARY URN (Roman - 125 AD to 175 AD)
• HUMAN REMAINS (Roman - 125 AD to 175 AD)
• JUG (Roman - 125 AD to 175 AD)
• PLATE (Roman - 125 AD to 175 AD)
• POT (Roman - 125 AD to 175 AD)

Full description

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[`A': TQ 7588 5588]. Romano-British Urns found AD 1932 [NAT] [`B': TQ 7590 5583]. Romano-British Urns found AD 1715 [NAT] (1) In 1715 several Ro. urns were discovered below the foundations of a warehouse at the junction of Earl Street (then Bullock Lane) and Pudding Lane, the site now occupied by Prentis Chambers (at TQ 7590 5583). The urns are said to have contained ashes, and human remains were scattered nearby. Nothing is known concerning the present whereabouts of the urns. On 6th February 1932 an RB burial group was uncovered during the relaying of a gas main in the roadway at the Earl Street end of Havock Lane at approximately TQ 7589 5587, on the opposite side to Crowhursts Forge (now Crowhurst: veterinary surgeon (d)) (The O.S. siting is incorrect, lying beneath pre-1932 houses - now demolished). The group, dated to mid 2nd c. AD consisted of a large cinerary urn containing the ashes of a child, a jug (handle and neck missing), a Drag. 32 plate and a small globular glass pot. In March 1932, a further burial group was uncovered not far from the previous find, beneath Crowhurst's Stables (formerly at TQ 7590 5588 (d)) during construction of Museum Street. This group, of coarse pottery, comprised a large jar, a flagon an E. 2nd c. AD dish and a samian cup (Drag 33) stamped Macerati. The pottery etc. is in store in Maidstone Museum. On display is a glass dolphin flask from 'burial ground 1932', probably from one of these sites. (No accession numbers). (2)

Additional Information(9,10)

<1> OS 1:1250 1958 (OS Card Reference). SKE48176.

<2> Pte 6" Maidstone Museum (L R A Grove undated) (OS Card Reference). SKE48890.

<3> Maidstone Museum Arch Gazetteer (in progress) Anon undated (OS Card Reference). SKE46417.

<5> Inf Mr Crowhurst Vetinary Surgeon Museum St Maidstone (OS Card Reference). SKE44335.

<6> VCH Kent III 1932 101 (OS Card Reference). SKE51180.

<7> F1 ASP 25.02.64 (OS Card Reference). SKE42271.

<8> Field report for monument TQ 75 NE 31 - February, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3802.

<9> Lawson-Price Environmental, 1994, Desk based assessment of land around the Fremlins Brewery for Whitbread Development Ltd (Unpublished document). SKE6889.

<10> Lawson-Price Environmental, 1998, Archaeological Desk Based Assessment of Land bounded by Earl Street, Week Street, St.Faith Streets & New Spine Road, Maidstone, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE7289.

Sources and further reading