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Monument details

HER Number:TR 15 SE 9
Type of record:Monument
Name:Saxon cemetery, Bifrons Park

Summary

6th century Saxon inhumation cemetery discovered in 1866 while digging a new plantation at Patricksbourne Hill in Bifrons Park. Excavations in 1867 located about 120 inhumations. The finds are in Maidstone Museum.

The site lies on a north-west facing slope, overlooking the Little Stour, between 30-50m contours. The derock is chalk.


Grid Reference:TR 1902 5456
Map Sheet:TR15SE
Parish:BEKESBOURNE-WITH-PATRIXBOURNE, CANTERBURY, KENT

Monument Types

Protected Status:Selected Heritage Inventory for Natural England: A Saxon cemetery excavated in 1867

Full description

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[TR 1902 5456] Saxon Burial Ground [NR] (1) A Saxon cemetery was discovered in 1866 while digging a new plantation at Patricksbourne Hill, in Bifrons Park, on the south-east side and overlooking the valley of the Lesser Stour. It was excavated in 1867 by Faussett who found about 120 graves of Pagan date with a few suggesting Christian origin. The finds are in Maidstone Museum. (2-4) No further information. (5)


<1> O S 6" 1961 (OS Card Reference). SKE47762.

<2> Arch Cant 10, 1876, 298-315 (illust) (T G Godfrey-Faussett) (OS Card Reference). SKE34519.

<3> Arch Cant 6 1866, 329-31 (OS Card Reference). SKE35312.

<4> V C H Kent 1, 1908, 342-3 (R A Smith) (OS Card Reference). SKE50709.

<5> F1 FGA 22.01.65 (OS Card Reference). SKE42956.

<6> Field report for monument TR 15 SE 9 - January, 1965 (Bibliographic reference). SKE5477.

Sources and further reading

Cross-ref. Source description
<1>OS Card Reference: O S 6" 1961.
<2>XYOS Card Reference: Arch Cant 10, 1876, 298-315 (illust) (T G Godfrey-Faussett). [Mapped feature: #43934 Cemetery, ]
<3>OS Card Reference: Arch Cant 6 1866, 329-31.
<4>OS Card Reference: V C H Kent 1, 1908, 342-3 (R A Smith).
<5>OS Card Reference: F1 FGA 22.01.65.
<6>Bibliographic reference: Field report for monument TR 15 SE 9 - January, 1965.