Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Possible site of Roman buildings. Previously this location was identified with discoveries made at what is now know as Eccles Roman villa (c.1km to the south west), the confusion arising from the imprecise location given in relation to the earliest discoveries at Eccles.

Summary from record MKE80185:

Portable Antiquities Scheme find - ceramic vessel

Summary from record MKE80186:

Portable Antiquities Scheme find - ceramic vessel

Summary from record MKE80187:

Portable Antiquities Scheme find - ceramic vessel

Summary from record MKE80188:

Portable Antiquities Scheme find - ceramic vessel

Summary from record MKE80189:

Portable Antiquities Scheme find - ceramic vessel

Summary from record MKE80190:

Portable Antiquities Scheme find - ceramic vessel

Summary from record MKE80191:

Portable Antiquities Scheme find - ceramic vessel

Summary from record MKE80192:

Portable Antiquities Scheme find - ceramic vessel

Summary from record MKE80193:

Portable Antiquities Scheme find - ceramic vessel

Summary from record MKE80195:

Portable Antiquities Scheme find - copper alloy brooch

Summary from record MKE80196:

Portable Antiquities Scheme find - copper alloy key (locking)

Summary from record MKE80197:

Portable Antiquities Scheme find - ceramic tile

Summary from record MKE80198:

Portable Antiquities Scheme find - ceramic tessera

Monument Types

• BUILDING? (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• FINDSPOT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• PIT (Roman to Post Medieval - 43 AD? to 1900 AD?)
• FINDSPOT (Roman - 100 AD to 300 AD)
• FINDSPOT (Roman - 150 AD to 409 AD)

Associated Finds

• ANIMAL REMAINS (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• TESSERA (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• TILE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• VESSEL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• VESSEL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• VESSEL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• VESSEL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• VESSEL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• VESSEL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• VESSEL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• VESSEL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• VESSEL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• BROOCH (Roman - 100 AD to 300 AD)
• KEY (LOCKING) (Roman - 150 AD to 409 AD)

Full description

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Possible site of Roman buildings. Previously this location was identified with discoveries made at what is now know as Eccles Roman villa (c.1km to the south west), the confusion arising from the imprecise location given in relation to the earliest discoveries at Eccles (see below). This site was marked on OS mapping in the 1960s (?) as a site of a Roman building. In 1971 a gas pipeline was reportedly cut across the field (possible line visible in aerial photos of 1972, across the northern part of the field, running NW-SE). Finds were collected from the spoil and reported via the Portable Antiquities Scheme in 2012. These included fragments of box flue tile, Roman pottery and large tesserae.

Original record:
[TQ 73046095] Roman foundations, Coins & c found AD 1848 (NAT) (1)

Roman coins and sepulchral remains found [c.1848], closely adjacent to the site of a Roman-British town, whose name is known to have been Aiglessa, and in later times, Eccles. The coins were a second brass coin of Hadrian, in tolerably good preservation; a first brass of Antoninus, much defaced and a third brass of Constantine Junior, much defaced. The sepulchral remains consist of a pit six feet square, lined with blocks of chalk, and four feet deep. In it were fragments of pottery, dark burnt material, and very large antlers of a stag and other bones. The sepulchre was situated a little to the west (about 100 yards) of the site of the town and apparently was of a later date than Roman times, about the 6th or 7th century (2).

Nothing is visible of the Roman town above ground although neighbouring dwellings have apparently been built from materials collected here. The preceding summer, the field being in clover, not only the directions of the streets could be seen, but also the forms of various buildings. The town is said to extend over 12 acres occupied by scattered foundations and debris of tile, brick etc. (a) (2)

Identified with the site of a Roman building to the west of modern Eccles (TQ 76 SW 10) (3)

Further identification of building found by Auth. 3 with discoveries reported by Beale-Poste. "The district round Eccles seems to have been one of the small centres of agricultural activity that are a feature of the Medway valley and North Kent"... ..."The remains noted by Beale-Poste indicate rather the presence of a village; an examination of a series of air photographs ... has brought to notice several suspicious markings, which should be investigated by the spade". (4)

The OS site (1) falls within a featureless pasture field. (5)

APs 541/536, May 1950, indeterminate but suggest relatively modern agriculture as the source of Authority 4. (6)

Description from record MKE80185:
Four fragments of ceramic vessel of probable Roman date. The fragments are all of the same course ware fabric, with reddish-brown surfaces and thindark grey core. There are frequent unsorted inclusions of quartz and shell. There is an mid grey to buff slip on both surfaces; this has then been cross hatched combed on the exterior surfaces of all fragments. All four sherds are body sherds.
Date: from 43 AD to 410 AD
Broad Period:
Method of manufacture: Wheel made
Weight: 26.2 grams
Completeness: Complete
OS GridRef: TQ730610
Easting: 573000
Northing: 161000
Methods of discovery: Fieldwalking
Recorded by: Jennifer Jackson
Primary Identifier: Jennifer Jackson
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
County: KENT
District: TONBRIDGE AND MALLING
Parish: AYLESFORD
Known as: Aylesford

Description from record MKE80186:
Two fragments of ceramic vessel of probable Roman date. The fragments are both of the same course ware fabric, with reddish-brown surfaces and thick dark grey or black core. There are frequent unsorted inclusions of quartz, red-brown iron-rich inclusions and shell. There appear to be abundant inclusions of shell 'plates' (up to 4mm), which have been dissolved out leaving flat voids in surface. The exterior surfaces of both fragments have been decorated with cross hatched combing.

One fragment is a rim sherd, (L-55.5mm, W-41.2mm, Th-8.3mm, 29.1 grams) with a beaded rim. There are signs of sooting around the to 20mm of the rim. A rim chart suggests that the vessel would have had a diameter of 27.5cm.

The other fragment is an irregular body sherd ( L- 35.5mm, W -21.6mm, Th - 9.2mm, 8.41 grams).

This suggests that these fragments are from North Kent shell-tempered storage jars:

http://potsherd.net/atlas/Ware/NKSH
Date: from 43 AD to 410 AD
Broad Period:
Method of manufacture: Wheel made
Completeness: Complete
OS GridRef: TQ730610
Easting: 573000
Northing: 161000
Methods of discovery: Other chance find
Recorded by: Jennifer Jackson
Primary Identifier: Jennifer Jackson
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
County: KENT
District: TONBRIDGE AND MALLING
Parish: AYLESFORD
Known as: Aylesford

Description from record MKE80187:
A fragment of a ceramic vessel, probably of Roman date. The fragment is in the form of a handle with three ribs running laterally down one surface. Uneven ribs or folds can be seen on the reverse, possibly the result of construction. The fabric of the sherd is a pale orange-brown with well-sorted quartz set in a dense, clean clay matrix containing abundant quartz. There are also red-brown iron-rich inclusions and possibly some indication of shell. It is thought that handle fragment could come from an amphora of some sort, although not enough remains for the form to be identified.
Date: from 43 AD to 410 AD
Broad Period:
Method of manufacture: Wheel made
Length: 35.4 mm
Width: 29.2 mm
Thickness: 10.9 mm
Weight: 14.1 grams
Completeness: Complete
OS GridRef: TQ730610
Easting: 573000
Northing: 161000
Methods of discovery: Other chance find
Recorded by: Jennifer Jackson
Primary Identifier: Jennifer Jackson
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
County: KENT
District: TONBRIDGE AND MALLING
Parish: AYLESFORD
Known as: Aylesford

Description from record MKE80188:
A fragment of a Roman ceramic vessel; a body fragment possible from a Central Gaulish colour-coated ware vessel. The fragment is soft, fine pale-buff fabric; slightly sandy and micaceous. Slip is a dark green to chestnut-brown with a metallic sheen. It is decorated withroughcasting of crushed white clay pellets. A similar example can be seen here: http://potsherd.net/atlas/Ware/CGCC
Date: from 43 AD to 410 AD
Broad Period:
Method of manufacture: Wheel made
Length: 36.1 mm
Width: 18.9 mm
Thickness: 4 mm
Weight: 3.53 grams
Completeness: Complete
OS GridRef: TQ730610
Easting: 573000
Northing: 161000
Methods of discovery: Other chance find
Recorded by: Jennifer Jackson
Primary Identifier: Jennifer Jackson
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
County: KENT
District: TONBRIDGE AND MALLING
Parish: AYLESFORD
Known as: Aylesford

Description from record MKE80189:
A fragment of a Roman ceramic vessel; a rim fragment from a Black Bunished vessel, possible a dish or jar. c. 43-410 AD. The rim would have had an approxiamte diameter of 9cm. Fabric has a granular appearance, with abundant well-sorted quartz inclusions set in a clean clay matrix. Possibly of Dorset Black-burnished ware 1 (DOR BB 1).
Date: from 43 AD to 410 AD
Broad Period:
Method of manufacture: Wheel made
Length: 42.1 mm
Width: 22.6 mm
Thickness: 10.1 mm
Weight: 10.02 grams
Completeness: Complete
OS GridRef: TQ730610
Easting: 573000
Northing: 161000
Methods of discovery: Other chance find
Recorded by: Jennifer Jackson
Primary Identifier: Jennifer Jackson
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
County: KENT
District: TONBRIDGE AND MALLING
Parish: AYLESFORD
Known as: Aylesford

Description from record MKE80190:
A fragment of a Roman ceramic vessel; a rim fragment from an Upchurch Greyware jar; c. 43-410 AD. The rim would have had an approxiamte diameter of 8cm. Fabric has a well-defined black core sandwhiched between dark grey. Inclusions are generally well sorted and measure
Date: from 43 AD to 410 AD
Broad Period:
Method of manufacture: Wheel made
Length: 61.5 mm
Width: 25.4 mm
Thickness: 3.1 mm
Weight: 9 grams
Completeness: Complete
OS GridRef: TQ730610
Easting: 573000
Northing: 161000
Methods of discovery: Other chance find
Recorded by: Jennifer Jackson
Primary Identifier: Jennifer Jackson
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
County: KENT
District: TONBRIDGE AND MALLING
Parish: AYLESFORD
Known as: Aylesford

Description from record MKE80191:
A fragment of ceramic vessel; a rim fragment from a Roman ceramic greyware vessel, c. 43-410 AD. Not enough of the vessel survives to identify the form, but the vessle would have had an approxiamte diameter of 10cm. Fabric is of a find sandy fabric with few inclusions. There appears to be a lighter slip on top of a darker grey fabric.
Date: from 43 AD to 410 AD
Broad Period:
Method of manufacture: Wheel made
Length: 43.1 mm
Width: 24.2 mm
Thickness: 3.9 mm
Weight: 6.33 grams
Completeness: Complete
OS GridRef: TQ730610
Easting: 573000
Northing: 161000
Methods of discovery: Other chance find
Recorded by: Jennifer Jackson
Primary Identifier: Jennifer Jackson
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
County: KENT
District: TONBRIDGE AND MALLING
Parish: AYLESFORD
Known as: Aylesford

Description from record MKE80192:
A fragment of ceramic vessel; a rim of a black burnished ware vessel, Roman in date, 1st-3rd century AD. The fabric comprises ill-sorted inclusions, up to 0.8 or 0.9mm, set in a sparsely micaceous clay with fine silver mica. Abundant quartz, normally 0.3-0.4mm, dominates, while red and black iron-rich grains are routinely present but sparse. Possibly of Cooling Black-burnished ware 2 (COO BB 2). The rim sherd could be from a flanged-rim bowl.
Date: from 43 AD to 410 AD
Broad Period:
Method of manufacture: Wheel made
Length: 24.3 mm
Width: 16.4 mm
Thickness: 8.9 mm
Weight: 4.24 grams
Completeness: Complete
OS GridRef: TQ730610
Easting: 573000
Northing: 161000
Methods of discovery: Other chance find
Recorded by: Jennifer Jackson
Primary Identifier: Jennifer Jackson
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
County: KENT
District: TONBRIDGE AND MALLING
Parish: AYLESFORD
Known as: Aylesford

Description from record MKE80193:
A fragment of ceramic vessel, probably of a Black Burnished ware of Roman date. Grey to black reduced fabric with abundant rounded quartz sand temper. The sherd is an undigagnostic body or base sherd. The colour of the break ranges from mid grey to black. The surfaces are similarly medium grey to black and are burnished. The fabric is hard, the fracture irregular and the feel smooth. It is possible that the sherd could be of Cliffe Black-burnished ware 2.
Date: from 43 AD to 410 AD
Broad Period:
Method of manufacture: Wheel made
Length: 31.9 mm
Width: 22.1 mm
Thickness: 5.7 mm
Weight: 4.76 grams
Completeness: Complete
OS GridRef: TQ730610
Easting: 573000
Northing: 161000
Methods of discovery: Metal detector
Recorded by: Jennifer Jackson
Primary Identifier: Jennifer Jackson
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
County: KENT
District: TONBRIDGE AND MALLING
Parish: AYLESFORD
Known as: Aylesford

Description from record MKE80195:
A copper alloy Roman plate brooch dating from the 2nd or 3rd century AD. It is oval with a raised central oval setting for a paste or glass gem, part of which remains and is of dark, almost black colour. This setting is surrounded by a flat band which has the remains of gilding present. The pin lug and catch plate survive on the reverse and are covered in corrosion products. Similar examples can be seen in of Hattatt's Visual Catalogue, page 364.

The brooch is 22.1mm long, 16.3mm wide, 6.5mm thick and weighs 4.52 grams.
Date: from 100 AD to 300 AD
Broad Period:
Length: 22.1 mm
Width: 16.3 mm
Thickness: 6.5 mm
Weight: 4.52 grams
Completeness: Complete
OS GridRef: TQ730610
Easting: 573000
Northing: 161000
Methods of discovery: Other chance find
Recorded by: Jennifer Jackson
Primary Identifier: Jennifer Jackson
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
County: KENT
District: TONBRIDGE AND MALLING
Parish: AYLESFORD
Known as: AYLESFORD

Description from record MKE80196:
An incomplete terminal from a Roman cast copper alloy key, dating 150 - 410 AD. The key is incomplete with only broekn stubs remaining of the the openwork trilobate or 'fleur de lys' handle. These stubs are situated on top of a double rectangular collar, decorated with horizontal grroves. There is a worn, oval break at the base of the collar, where the shank would have been located. A similar example can be seen in Crummy (1983), figure 142, number 4161 as well as on the database: WAW-97EC63 , GLO-E6D975 and LIN-04E834 .

The fragment is 26.8mm long, 24.3mm wide, 8.4mm thick and weighs 12.43 grams.
Date: from 150 AD to 410 AD
Broad Period:
Length: 26.8 mm
Width: 24.3 mm
Thickness: 8.4 mm
Weight: 12.43 grams
Completeness: Complete
OS GridRef: TQ730610
Easting: 573000
Northing: 161000
Methods of discovery: Other chance find
Recorded by: Jennifer Jackson
Primary Identifier: Jennifer Jackson
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
County: KENT
District: TONBRIDGE AND MALLING
Parish: AYLESFORD
Known as: AYLESFORD

Description from record MKE80197:
A collection of 4 fragments of box flue tile. All are of acoarse oxidised orange to red fabrice fabric is sandy with occasional calcareous inclusions and voids. One of the fragments is from the corner of a box-shaped tile.

All the fragments have patterns of combed or rolled parallel lines applied in angular arrangements and sometimes overlapping. The thickness of the tiles is variable ranging from 14.7 mm to 23.5 mm. Such tiles were used to create flues in the walls of building, through which hot air generated by the hypocaust system would pass. The Linear grooves decorating the surfaces are keying to improve the adhesion of wall plaster. Date: Roman - 1st century to 4th Century AD. Total Weight: 465.94 grams.
Date: from 43 AD to 410 AD
Broad Period:
Weight: 465.94 grams
Completeness: Complete
OS GridRef: TQ730610
Easting: 573000
Northing: 161000
Methods of discovery: Other chance find
Recorded by: Jennifer Jackson
Primary Identifier: Jennifer Jackson
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
County: KENT
District: TONBRIDGE AND MALLING
Parish: AYLESFORD
Known as: AYLESFORD

Description from record MKE80198:
A collection of eleven cut tile tesserae of Roman date. They are orange/red in colour, roughly rectangular or sub cuboid shape in form and with traces of mortar on at least one surface. They have a combined total weight of 332.26 g and date to between the 1st and 5th centuries AD, c.43-410 AD.
Date: from 43 AD to 410 AD
Broad Period:
Weight: 332.26 grams
Completeness: Complete
OS GridRef: TQ730610
Easting: 573000
Northing: 161000
Methods of discovery: Other chance find
Recorded by: Jennifer Jackson
Primary Identifier: Jennifer Jackson
Subsequent action: Returned to finder
County: KENT
District: TONBRIDGE AND MALLING
Parish: AYLESFORD
Known as: AYLESFORD

<1> OS 6" 1939 (OS Card Reference). SKE48359.

<2> Mr Abbot, Rowes Place (OS Card Reference). SKE47362.

<3> JBAA 4 1849 81-82 (Beale-Poste) (OS Card Reference). SKE44965.

<4> Arch Cant vol 23 1898 12 ff (G Payne) (OS Card Reference). SKE36382.

<5> VCH Kent vol 3 1932 104 153 (OS Card Reference). SKE51208.

<6> F1 ASP 19-MAY-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE42187.

<7> F2 JN 12-JUN-65 (OS Card Reference). SKE43341.

<8> Field report for monument TQ 76 SW 8 - May, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4168.

Sources and further reading