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

Romano-British building foundations - roof tiles, found 1930. The foundations of a large building were exposed near edge of the marsh running eastwards into the enclosure of the Murston Sewage Works, beneath which it undoubtedly extends. From foundations, Mr. S.J. Williams has found wall plaster, many roof tiles, etc. In 1989 trial excavations in this area uncovered an occupation layer 0.3m-0.6m thick containing 2nd-4th century AD pottery, glass, tesserae and a piece of tegula. Listed as the possible site of a Roman villa.

Monument Types

• BUILDING (foundations, tile, plaster, Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• SETTLEMENT (ROMAN, Roman - 100 AD to 300 AD)

Associated Finds

• ROOF TILE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• ANIMAL REMAINS (Roman - 100 AD to 300 AD)
• SLAG (Roman - 100 AD to 300 AD)
• TILE (Roman - 100 AD to 300 AD)
• VESSEL (Roman - 100 AD to 300 AD)

Full description

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

[TQ 92606493] Roman building. (1) SEE ALSO TQ 96 SW 143 (Probably same site).

Foundations of a large Romano-British building - wall plaster, roof tiles. April 1930. N.C.Cook. (2)

Meres Court. Foundations of a large building exposed near edge of marsh running eastwards into the enclosure of the Murston Sewage Works, beneath which it undoubtedly extends. From foundations, Mr. S.J.Williams has found wall plaster, many roof tiles, etc. Visited and identified by N.C.Cook, April 1930. Long. O degrees 45ft. 51ins. E. Nat. 51 degrees 21ft. 2ins. N. [Approximate siting.] (3)

Siting by Authority 1 is occupied by a small potato patch. Nothing was found on the ground. Workmen of the South Eastern Gas Board, laying a pipe along the east margin of the field, report finding nothing in the trench, up to 6 feet deep. Not shown on O.S. map of Roman Britain 3rd Edition, 1956. Not mentioned in Arch. Cant. (4)

No further information (5).

Additional references from field reports and sources (7-9).

Description from record TQ 96 SW 143:
Trial trenching in 1989 revealed a RB occupation layer of between 0.30m and 0.60m. Pottery, tile slag and bone were found. Dated to between 2nd and 4th centuries. (1), additional reference (2).

KE 86 Listed as the possible site of a Roman villa. (10)

<1> Rec 6" (Anon undated) (OS Card Reference). SKE49021.

<1> Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit, 1989, Excavation and Recording on the site of Murston Gypsy Camp 1989/90, KARU 1989-90 'Murston Gypsy Camp' [Excavation report] (K Parfitt) (Unpublished document). SWX6850.

<2> Kent Arch Soc 6" Maidstone Mus (Anon Undated) (OS Card Reference). SKE45877.

<2> Philp, B. J., 1998, Roman Villas in the Swale Area (Article in serial). SWX7651.

<3> Maidstone Mus Arch Gaz MS in progress (OS Card Reference). SKE46312.

<4> F1 ASP 29-JUL-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE42345.

<6> Letter (N Cook 30.7.63) (OS Card Reference). SKE46069.

<7> Field report for monument TQ 96 SW 9 - July, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4936.

<8> Field report for monument TQ 96 SW 9 - September, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4937.

<9> Philp, B. J., 1998, Roman Villas in the Swale Area (Article in serial). SWX7651.

<10> Eleanor Scott, 1993, A gazetteer of Roman villas in Britain (Unspecified Type). SWX23549.

Sources and further reading