Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Romano-British interments, pottery (1st C. AD) found 1929, Romano-British pottery.

Monument Types

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

Associated Finds

• JUG (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)

Full description

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Rather more than a mile to the east of Sittingbourne, adjoining the highway, a few Roman graves, mostly of the 1st century A.D., have been found at Bapchild. Pottery, probably from a grave-group, found in 1929, included a small green-glazed jug of St. Remy ware and of mid 1st century date (in Rochester Museum). (1) A jug (see Illustration Card for photo) of fine cream pipe-clay with yellowish-brown glaze, found in Mr Heywood's gravel pit at Sittingbourne, is 5.875 inches high with a maximum diameter of 4 inches. It is unmistakably the work of the St. Remy-en-Rollat industry of Transalpine Gaul. By its form it can be dated to the Tiberius-Claudius period, probably pre 43 A.D.. La Tene III coarse pottery with "soapy" surface was found in the same pit and also dates from the earlier years of the century. (2) "The find was undoubtedly made on land belonging to Heywood Farm. There never was a Mr Heywood. The "gravel pit" would be a brick-earthpit in fact, and there is but one on Heywood lands, now disused and under orchard and grass. It does reach nearly to the main road, by the side of Panteney Lane [as stated in Authority 1]." (3) [Area TQ 9311 6279] Sited to the field bordering Panteny Lane, which is now under orchard, but has been dug for brickearth all over. (4) Additional reference. (5)

<1> VCH Kent 3 1932 98 (R E M Wheeler) (OS Card Reference). SKE51151.

<2> Ant J 10 1930 161-2 Photo pl XVI opp 162 (C F C Hawkes) (Notes) (OS Card Reference). SKE33125.

<3> Oral - G L Doubleday (Owner's son and Secy)Bapchild Sittingbourne 28 7 59 (OS Card Reference). SKE47890.

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

<6> BAR 57 1978 Early Fine Wares in Roman Britain 33 fig (ed P Arthur and G Marsh) (OS Card Reference). SKE37540.

<7> Field report for monument TQ 96 SW 25 - July, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4952.

Sources and further reading