Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Extensive excavations revealed a Romano British occupation site with with wells, cremations and pits. Large collections of pottery dating from the 1st to 3rd century were found. Other finds included coins, a strap end, a quern brooches and rubble indicative of a building nearby. Iron Age and Medieval coins were found as well as Medieval pottery.

Monument Types

• BUILDING (Roman - 43 AD to 299 AD)
• CEMETERY (CEMETERY, Roman - 43 AD to 299 AD)
• SETTLEMENT (SETTLEMENT, Roman - 43 AD to 299 AD)
• WELL (Roman - 43 AD to 299 AD)

Associated Finds

• COIN (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
• BROOCH (Roman - 43 AD to 299 AD)
• COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 299 AD)
• QUERN (Roman - 43 AD to 299 AD)
• SHERD (Roman - 43 AD to 299 AD)
• STRAP END (Roman - 43 AD to 299 AD)
• COIN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• SHERD (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)

Full description

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In 1842 Roach Smith recorded the following at Bapchild:- (i) "In a field called "Batfield", which borders the high road on rising ground, "recently discovered", with coins ranging from Claudius to Tetricus, and including an AE of Eppillus, and numerous fragments of pottery strewn around. The coins being in the possession of Mr Lake of Bapchild." (ii) "In an adjoining field, known as "Gravel Pit Field" pieces of Roman tile and a "perfect patera of red ware, inscribed Regulius F," found by Mr Lake (1). In 1893 G. Payne notes - "Coins and potsherds are being constantly turned up in the cottage garden at the foot of Radfield Hill. In the orchard of Radfield House, by the roadside, vases have also been found". He also lists coins found upon the property of Mr James Lake of Bapchild (2), and with reference to this Wheeler lists the coins "reported" to come from "Batfield" as from Faustina II to Arcadius (3). An Annotated 6 inch sheet (d) in Maidstone Museum show sites at TQ 9393 6293 (Roman interment), TQ 9395 6286 (Urns) and TQ 9392 6283 (couns), A, B, C, respectively on record sheet (4) In 1952 a circular Romano-British rubbish pit was discovered on the N. side of the A2 road during road widening "at Radfield in Tonge Parish"sited to TQ 9385 6290 on the 6". The pit was excavated by L. R. A.Grove and G. W. Meates and yielded 1st to 2nd century pottery, oyster shells and animal bones. ("D" on record sheet) (5)(6). (There is thus clearly a Romano-British complex in the area of Radfield, and although Roach Smith's two sites at "Batfield" and "Gravel Pit" are not better located than as at "Bapchild" the finds described by him are suggestively paralleled by the anonymous note on the Kent Archaeological Society 6" with siting in the same area.) (1-6) The names "Batfield" and "Gravel Pit Field" are not known locally and do not appear on the Tithe Maps of Bapchild or Tonge. It is suggestedthat `Batfield' may be a printing error from MS "Radfield" (Roach Smith's handwriting being notoriously bad (a)), in which case all the sites would be from the same area. Mr Grove states that his own siting (6) of the 1952 rubbish pit is accurate, but he knows nothing about the anonymous note and siting on the Kent Archaeological Society 6" (4). (7) [TQ 9388 6296] Roman remains found [R] (8) [TQ 939 628] Roman coins, pottery and part of a brooch were found in 1968 when a known Roman site at Radfield was being levelled by bulldozer. A rescue excavation, by the Sittingbourne and Swale Archaeological Group, uncovered two wells and a number of pits, all providing material in plenty, and two cremation burials with pottery and jewellery. The work then moved to a corner of the field next to the A2, where there was a mound known as "The Castle". Here an extensive layer of flint metalling was revealed, substantial in places, with a marked camber. Underneath it were two shallow gullies containing early Roman and possibly pre-Conquest pottery. A silver Medieval coin was discovered lying on the metalling. Finds from the excavation included coins, rings, brooches, pins, and a mass of pottery - much dating from the 1st century. (9) Excavations at TQ 9394 6281 will be continued in 1970. Roman material was found here and at TQ 9386 6289 on the site of a cottage, during levelling work by bulldozer in 1968, according to the farm manager, Radfield Farm, Mr Booker. The cottage site is now arable land and nothing of interest was seen there. Surveyed at 1:2500. (10) [TQ 939 628] Three potin coins were found during the 1968 excavation of Radfield Roman site. Potins, small coins made of a copper and tin mixture, were circulating mainly in the south-east from the mid 1st century B.C. - mid 1st century A.D. (11)

Potin coin, probably dating from the early 1st century B.C., found during excavations at Radfield in 1969, listed. Two potin coins, probably dating from the early 1st century A.D., found at Radfield, noted in 1969. Another was found in 1974-5 (see Authority 19) (b). (12) Iron Age bronze coin from Romano-British site by Watling Street, at Radfield, listed. (13)

Investigations at Radfield Roman site in 1970 produced evidence of intensive occupation from the early 1st to late 3rd centuries. Building material was found, and a post hole. Apart from a wide
variety of pottery and domestic refuse, several more coins were found. Surface finds from adjacent fields indicated that the settlement was over 5 acres in extent. (14)

During excavations (1973-4?) at Radfield, involving the Sittingbourneand Swale Archaeological Research Group and the Faversham Archaeological Research Group, two bronze coins were found. The
earlier coin (see Illustration Card) shows a wolf surrounded by small circles, leaves, and a pair of boars. On the reverse - a horse surrounded by circles. This coin is analogous to coinage from north-
east Gaul, dating from early in the last quarter of the 1st century B.C. The second coin, probably issued between 337 and 346 A.D. shows a bust and an inscription, with two Victories and an inscription on
the reverse. The mint mark "TR" indicates that it was from the Treveri mint. (15)

During 1972 and 1974-5 excavations took place at a Romano-British site, situated in a field immediately west of Radfield House, TQ 939 628. The field bore traces of a 1930's tennis court and brickearth excavation. "Sandpit Cottage", demolished in 1968, stood in a depression immediately south of the A2 and was presumably that mentioned by Payne (Authority 2). In October 1972 excavations revealed a pit 2.2 metres deep and at least 1.2 metres in diameter, and a ditch 2 metres wide by 1 metre deep. The pit contained dark, humic, friable material interspersed with layers of sand - possibly a cess-pit. It also yielded oyster shells, 1st to 2nd century Roman pottery, animal bones, iron ore, carbonized wood, chalk, heat-crazed flint, nails, Roman glass, and a small bronze strap. Fragments of Roman brick and roof tile indicated a building nearby. The ditch contained sandy loam and silt. It yielded bone, including ox and horse jaws, Roman roof tile, a brooch pin, a disc pin, and fragments of coarse pottery no later than the 2nd century. Further excavations in 1974-5 showed the ditch to extend for at least a further 30 metres, in a line parallel to and 60 metres south of the
Rochester-Canterbury Roman road located in 1968 (see Authority 9). Its purpose was probably to retain stock. Over the ditch contents was evidence of fire: charcoal, baked clay, worked iron pieces, and possible slag. Finds included; a bronze pin, a buckle, brooch fragments, a bronze brooch of probable pre-Conquest date, pottery of mid-late 2nd century, a grey-ware vessel of Belgic type, a bronze potin coin (see Authority 12) and a British coin of the 1st century B.C. (see Authority 15). Undisturbed layers above the ditch contained Roman pottery, tiles, amphorae, a quernstone, bronze wire, and a bucket handle. The site seems to have been occupied before the Roman conquest until at least the 3rd century. Evidence of post-Roman occupation was scant, with only one medieval potsherd found. "Durolevum" - a hitherto undiscovered posting station is thought to lie in this area (see also TQ 96 SE 12). (16-19)

[TQ 9397 6276] Medieval pottery of the 14th century found at Radfield Romano-British site in 1975. (20)

Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 1995, Radfield Farm: Archaeological Monitoring (Unpublished document). SKE12061.

Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 1995, Radfield Farm: Archaeological Monitoring (Unpublished document). Ske12061.

<1> Archaeologia 29 1842 220 (Roach Smith) (OS Card Reference). SKE37309.

<2> Coll Cant 1893 89 (G Payne) (OS Card Reference). SKE39155.

<3> VCH Kent 3 1932 98 (Wheeler) (OS Card Reference). SKE51152.

<4> Maidstone Museum Kent Arch Soc 6" (Anon undated) (OS Card Reference). SKE46470.

<5> Arch Cant 66 1953 156-7 (Grove and Meates) (OS Card Reference). SKE35417.

<6> Maidstone Museum Office 6" (OS Card Reference). SKE46476.

<7> Information - L R A Grove (OS Card Reference). SKE44450.

<8> F1 ASP 24-JUL-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE42261.

<9> OS 6" 1961 (OS Card Reference). SKE48369.

<10> KAR 14 1968 10 (H P Mills) (OS Card Reference). SKE45240.

<11> F2 ASP 25-NOV-69 (OS Card Reference). SKE43168.

<12> KAR 22 Winter 1970/71 57-8 photo (OS Card Reference). SKE45267.

<13> The Iron Age and its Hill Forts 1971 (ed M Jesson and D Hill British Potin Coins A Review 127-154 pl (OS Card Reference). SKE50383.

<14> Index of Celtic Coins at Institute of Arch Oxford (Prof S S Frere) (OS Card Reference). SKE44277.

<15> Supplementary Gaz of Find Spots of Celtic Coins in Britain 1977 London Univ Inst Arch Occ Paper 11a (OS Card Reference). SKE49755.

<16> KAR 20 Summer 1970 9 (OS Card Reference). SKE45261.

<17> KAR 35 Spring 1974 131 photo (R Baxter) (OS Card Reference). SKE45313.

<18> KAR 32 Summer 1973 41 (P Cox) (OS Card Reference). SKE45299.

<19> KAR 34 Winter 1973 102 (P Cox) (OS Card Reference). SKE45307.

<20> KAR 40 Summer 1975 278-9 (R Baxter) (OS Card Reference). SKE45333.

<21> Arch Cant 94 1978 239-47 figs (R Baxter and R Mills) (OS Card Reference). SKE36180.

<22> KAR 45 1976 126 fig (R Baxter) (OS Card Reference). SKE45342.

<23> Field report for monument TQ 96 SW 29 - July, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4957.

<24> Field report for monument TQ 96 SW 29 - November, 1969 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4958.

Sources and further reading