Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Excavation of an enclosure uncovered the remains of a Medieval hall and associated buildings, possibly the site of the manor of Ocholt. The enclosure and associated field system have since been destroyed by development. A Roman, early 2nd century AD, pottery kiln was also uncovered.

Monument Types

• KILN (KILN, Roman - 100 AD to 132 AD)
• SETTLEMENT (SETTLEMENT, Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• MANOR HOUSE (MANOR HOUSE, Medieval - 1200 AD to 1399 AD)

Associated Finds

• ARROW (Prehistoric or Roman - 500000 BC? to 409 AD?)
• SCRAPER (TOOL) (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2351 BC)
• UNASSIGNED (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
• UNASSIGNED (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)

Full description

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[Centred TQ 509718] Earthwork [G.T.] (1) Excavations by Tester and Caiger (2) within the enclosure in Joyden's Wood revealed the footings of a Medieval hall and associated buildings (see plans AO/59/218/2-3) Finds all support a 13th - 14th C. date, and pottery, (G.C. Dunning), indicates a limited occupation of forty years (c. 1280-1320) The hall, and its complex of contemporary and near contemporary earthworks and field system (see plan AO/59/218/1), is probably associable with the lost Manor of Ocholt known to have been situated hereabouts (Hogg (3) p.16) The site has similarities with a complex at Preston, near Tadworth, Surrey, excavated by Hope-Taylor and dated C.1180-1200. Spurrell (4) reports stone arrowheads and allegedly Roman pottery from within the earthwork. A handful of 1st-2nd C. Samian and Upchurch sherds were found by Colvin (5) in an excavation on building 'D' in 1939. A deep well (see plan) steined with flints has been popularly regarded as Roman: it is almost certainly Medieval,and probably the main water supply of the settlement. (2-5) Iron objects (part of bridle and bit ?), iron latchlifter, both Roman; pottery fragments found with small, early 2 C. Kiln; Ne. scraper, from Joyden's Wood, Dartford, exhibited in the Dartford Museum. (6) The earthwork and its adjacent field banks have been destroyed by building development. AM Survey amended. The remaining banks, etc., could not be fully investigated because of dense undergrowth. The area surrounding the site is under intensive development. (7) The site is now fully developed and no traces of the earthworks remain. Published 1/1250 survey revised. (8) Additional bibliography. (9-16)

Archive material (17)

<1> O.S. 25" 1939 (OS Card Reference). SKE47808.

<2> Arch. Cant. 72,1958, 18039 plans. Illusts. (P.J. Tester:J.E.L. Caiger) (OS Card Reference). SKE37041.

<3> Arch. Cant. 54, 1941 10-17 plans. (A.H.A. Hogg) (OS Card Reference). SKE37020.

<4> Arch. Cant. 18,1889, 307-8 (F.C.J. Spurrell) (OS Card Reference). SKE36978.

<5> Arch. Cant. 61, 1948, 133-4 (H.M. Colvin) (OS Card Reference). SKE37021.

<6> F1 ASP 13-OCT-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE42087.

<7> F2 AC 15-DEC-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE43059.

<8> F3 ASP 16-SEP-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE43373.

<9> Arch Cant 76 1961 xlvii (PJ Tester) (OS Card Reference). SKE35608.

<10> Med Arch 2 1958 204 (DM Wilson and JG Hurst) (OS Card Reference). SKE46746.

<11> Arch Cant 95 1949 289-90 (PJ Tester) (OS Card Reference). SKE36203.

<12> Field report for monument TQ 57 SW 92 - October, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3194.

<13> Field report for monument TQ 57 SW 92 - December, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3195.

<14> Field report for monument TQ 57 SW 92 - September, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3196.

<15> Colvin, H M: Joyden's Wood, Kent (Collection). SKE6539.

<16> Colvin, H M: Joyden's Wood, Kent (Collection). SKE6539.

<17> Historic England, Historic England Archive (Archive). SKE53806.

Sources and further reading