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Monument details

HER Number:TQ 67 SW 347
Type of record:Monument
Name:Roman bakery at Springhead Roman religious complex

Summary

Roman bakery at Springhead Roman religious complex found during excavations carried out by Gravesend Historical society. The bakery forms part of a wider Roman settlement and religious complex at Springhead. It was constructed sometime between AD 43 and 90 and appears to have been abandoned by AD 130. (location accurate to the nearest 10m based on available information)


Grid Reference:TQ 61724 72470
Map Sheet:TQ67SW
Parish:SOUTHFLEET, DARTFORD, KENT

Monument Types

  • BAKERY (Roman - 43 AD? to 299 AD?)

Associated Finds

  • BRACELET (Undated)
  • ANIMAL REMAINS (Roman - 43 AD? to 299 AD?)
  • AWL (Roman - 43 AD? to 299 AD?)
  • AXE? (Roman - 43 AD? to 299 AD?)
  • BARBED AND TANGED ARROWHEAD (Roman - 43 AD? to 299 AD?)
  • BROOCH (Roman - 43 AD? to 299 AD?)
  • BUTTON (Roman - 43 AD? to 299 AD?)
  • COMB (Roman - 43 AD? to 299 AD?)
  • COUNTER (Roman - 43 AD? to 299 AD?)
  • KEY (LOCKING) (Roman - 43 AD? to 299 AD?)
  • KNIFE (Roman - 43 AD? to 299 AD?)
  • LATCH (Roman - 43 AD? to 299 AD?)
  • NAIL (Roman - 43 AD? to 299 AD?)
  • NEEDLE (Roman - 43 AD? to 299 AD?)
  • PENDANT (Roman - 43 AD? to 299 AD?)
  • PIN (Roman - 43 AD? to 299 AD?)
  • RING (Roman - 43 AD? to 299 AD?)
  • SEEDS (Roman - 43 AD? to 299 AD?)
  • SHERD (Roman - 43 AD? to 299 AD?)
  • SKEWER (Roman - 43 AD? to 299 AD?)
  • SLAG (Roman - 43 AD? to 299 AD?)
  • SPOON (Roman - 43 AD? to 299 AD?)
  • TWEEZERS (Roman - 43 AD? to 299 AD?)
  • WHETSTONE (Roman - 43 AD? to 299 AD?)
  • QUERN (Roman - 90 AD? to 299 AD)
Protected Status:Scheduled Monument 158

Full description

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Excavations undertaken by the Gravesend Historical Society during the 1950s and 1960s revealed a number of features, including buildings and roads with a Roman date. These were located along Watling Street and formed part of a large Iron Age and Roman religious centre (known as Vagniacae). Four phases of a single building, which has been interpreted as a possible bakery, were identified in this location. The first phase dating to c. AD40-90, the second phase was represented by a well defined and substantial flint walled structure dating to between c. AD. 90-120, the third phase comprised another timber building with a flint/cement floor dating to c. AD.130-220, while the fourth and final phase is simply hinted at by the occupation evidence. The first three phases are readily related since the foundations of the bakery cut into the pit and chalk floor of phase 1, and the phase three floor overlies the wall footings of phase 2. After the first phase which comprised a pit, gully and chalk floor of a timber structure, the building is constructed on a substantial scale during the second phase, here it is 22m long by 7m wide and the remains consist of substantial trench built foundations of flint, about 1m deep and 0.5m wide. These survive for a further 45cm above the 1m trench, which in places, is less than 30cm below the ground level. Some evidence of a raised wooden floor is also present by small internal offsets. The building is divided into three rooms by two cross walls, the most northerly room looking out onto a metalled road may have been a shop, the centre and southern rooms contained ovens. In many respects the building’s form resembles a granary, and the evidence, which includes a large fragment of a mill stone, suggests that the building was used for storing, milling, baking and selling bread. The third phase retained much of the second phase building, including the ovens and the layout, and the large quantity of associated occupation evidence suggests that it was extensively used. Wattle and daub walls were constructed and covered in painted wall plaster. A large rubbish dump was also discovered with the third phase of occupation. The evidence for the final fourth phase consists of a large quantity of fragmentary pottery with a late third/fourth century date, but no structural features. (1-2) Overall the small finds associated that were located within deposits (including dumps) associated with this building are numerous, and included evidence for industrial activity within the vicinity. A full list of the finds associated with this building is given in appendex of source. (2) The building is Also observeable on cropmarks (3-4)


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

<2> W. S. Penn, 1957, Archaeologia Cantiana - The Romano British Settlement at Springhead, Excavation of the Bakery, Site A (Article in serial). SKE53578.

<3> AP (NMR TQ 6172/4; 07.07.75) (OS Card Reference). SKE33608.

<4> AP (CUC AAW 60; 13.06.60) (OS Card Reference). SKE33333.

Sources and further reading

Cross-ref. Source description
<1>Article in serial: WS Penn. 1965. Archaeologia Cantiana, Springhead - map of Discoveries. Vol 80, pp 107-117.
<2>XYArticle in serial: W. S. Penn. 1957. Archaeologia Cantiana - The Romano British Settlement at Springhead, Excavation of the Bakery, Site A. Vol 71 pp 53-105. [Mapped feature: #108930 bakery, ]
<3>OS Card Reference: AP (NMR TQ 6172/4; 07.07.75).
<4>OS Card Reference: AP (CUC AAW 60; 13.06.60).

Related records

TQ 67 SW 6Part of: Vagniacae (Springhead), Iron Age and Roman religious centre (Monument)