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

In 1755 when the central tower of St Mary of Charity was being demolished, a Roman altar and bricks were found in the rubble, and Roman urns and coins were found when the western tower was being demolished in 1794. Foundations of Roman buildings have been observed north of the nave and south of the chancel. A green glass Anglo Saxon cup was found with a cranial fragment in the churchyard in 1853.

The site lies on low-lying ground near faversham Creek. The land slopes gently west,on a brickearth sub-soil. OD 5-10m.

Monument Types

• ALTAR (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• BUILDING (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• DITCH (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• BURIAL (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 410 AD to 750 AD)

Associated Finds

• VESSEL (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 410 AD to 649 AD)

Full description

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[TR 0181 6153] Foundations of Roman buildings have been observed on the north side of the nave and the south side of the chancel of Faversham Church. A Roman altar and Roman bricks were found in 1755 when the central tower was demolished and urns and coins were found when the western tower was taken down in 1794. Part of a skull with a Saxon green tumbler was found while digging a grave in the churchyard in 1853. (1)(2) No further information. There has been no grave-digging near the church during the past 50 years. (3) [TQ 018 615 (should read TR)] A small frontal bone of a human cranium was found with an Anglo-Saxon cup of green glass when a grave was being dug at Faversham churchyard in 1853. (4)(5) Roman altar at Faversham, listed. (6)

In 2006 Swale and Thames Archaeological Survey Company undertook a programme of works in the churchyard. A ditch was found, containing 'Roman artefacts'. (7-8)

Photographs (9-10)

Andrew Richardson, 2000, Gazetteer of Anglo-Saxon Cemeteries and Burial-Sites in Kent (Unpublished document). SKE29253.

<1> VCH Kent 3 1932 93 (R E M Wheeler) (OS Card Reference). SKE51143.

<2> JBAA 13 1857 313 (OS Card Reference). SKE44870.

<3> F1 ASP 02-AUG-63 (OS Card Reference). SKE41890.

<4> VCH Kent 1 1908 385 (R A Smith) (OS Card Reference). SKE50873.

<5> Gaz Early AS Burial Sites 1964 118 (A Meaney) (OS Card Reference). SKE43483.

<6> BAR 24 The Religions of Roman Britain 1976 230 (M Green) (OS Card Reference). SKE37523.

<7> Field report for monument TR 06 SW 18 - August, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE5293.

<8> Swale and Thames Archaeological Survey Company, 2007, Archaeological Evaluation, Excavation and Watching Brief at the Church of St Mary of Charity, Faversham, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE18023.

<9> 1993, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11404.

<10> 1993, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11404.

Sources and further reading