Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A lead canister containing the burnt bones of a child was found in the garden of "Kitcat", at Aldington, in 1914, and presented to the British Museum in 1929, together with two or three potsherds found close by. It is also believed that other remains were found pre 1914, the evidence for this contained within a letter written by a previous owner which mentions two finds - a big Roman grave with skeletons 10 feet long according to the wife of the man who dug into it before 1914. Also allegedly found at the site were "The bones of the Roman Officer" and the urn that was found with it.

Monument Types

• CREMATION (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• CREMATION CEMETERY (Possible, Roman - 43 AD? to 409 AD?)

Associated Finds

• COFFIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• URN (Roman - 43 AD? to 409 AD?)

Full description

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[TR 07843557] Leaden Urn found A.D.1914 [T.I.] (1)

A lead canister containing the burnt bones of a child was found in the garden of "Kitcat", at Aldington, in 1914, and presented by Mrs. Elsie Hueffer to the British Museum in 1929, together with two or three potsherds found close by. (2)

The owner of White Walls (formerly Kit Kat) has seen the lead canister at the British Museum. The siting and date of finding are recorded in a letter to him from Mr. C. Douglas Stephenson, a former owner. This letter mentions two finds - (a) "A big Roman Grave with skeletons 10 feet long according to the wife of the man who dug into it before 1914" (b)"The bones of the Roman Officer" and the urn that was found with it. (a) is sited to TR 07803556 and (b) to TR 07823556, both by detailed description in the letter. (3)

<1> OS 6" 1961 (OS Card Reference). SKE48369.

<2> VCH Kent 3 1932 144 RB Kent (MV Taylor etc) (OS Card Reference). SKE51024.

<3> F1 ASP 30-NOV-62 (OS Card Reference). SKE42360.

<4> Field report for monument TR 03 NE 3 - November, 1962 (Bibliographic reference). SKE5074.

Sources and further reading