Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

The site of a Roman villa in a field near Elverton Lane uncovered in the 19th century. Building foundations, tessellated paving, a hypocaust and smaller finds of pottery, painted plaster, tiles, a mortar and oxen bones were discovered.

Monument Types

• BUILDING (Roman - 43 AD? (at some time) to 409 AD? (at some time))
• TESSELLATED FLOOR (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• VILLA? (Roman - 43 AD? (at some time) to 409 AD? (at some time))

Associated Finds

• ANIMAL REMAINS (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• SHERD (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• WALL PLASTER (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)

Full description

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The confused nature of the antiquarian and modern investigations in the area have made it unclear whether the site near Luddenham court is the same as that discovered in the 19th century at Elverton Lane. We could be dealing with a 'Villa' site and a temple 'site'. A monument point has been retained in Elverton itself, to cover both possible sites.

Antiquarian account of findings in Luddenham. "In the parish of Luddenham, two Roman villas have been discovered. In a field near Elverton Lane, a spot had often been noticed on account of the corn there being different in colour to that in the rest of the field. Upon excavating, strongly cemented foundations of flint were found in detached portions, enclosing a space of about 54 yards square. Within this area, the foundations of two long apartments were traced, as well as two smaller ones. Some fragments of paving were found, one piece about 12ft. square formed of small pieces of stone an inch square set in cement containing brick rubbish, another piece, made of brick smaller than this was found between two walls as if it had been an entrance or passage. In removing the soil many Roman remains were found - flat tiles with two opposite raised edges, varying in size from 12 inches to 18 inches square, perhaps for covering ducts to baths; ridge tiles 16 inches long were found; tiles 8 inches square and 1.5 inches thick, black from smoke were piled on each other, these were probably belonging to a hypocaust. Broken pottery, flakes of plaster coloured red and white, mortar containing pounded red tile, bones of oxen, and two small bronze coins with a helmeted head, reverse, Romulus and Remus suckled by the wolf, with two stars above. Not far from this in a field west of Hog Brook, the remains of a Roman villa were found in 1852" [see TQ 96 SE 22] [1].

Field report for monument [TQ 96 SE 24]. [TQ 96 SE 24] has been deleted as it is a duplicate record of this one, its records have been assimilated into this record [2].

Enquiries made in the district, revealed no knowledge of the name Elverton Lane. None of the local country roads bear names. Likewise, no one could be found who had knowledge of the finding of remains of a Roman villa in the last century near to Elverton farm. All the land thereabouts is under hops, orchard, wheat or pasture, and the necessarily restricted examination of fields bordering the two roads leading to Elverton farmhouse revealed no traces of Roman building. (3).

This suggests to the compiler that Elverton Lane may have been the name of one of the lanes leading to Elverton?

Villa article [4].

Brief recapitulation of Reliquary report confirming the view that the coins appear to have been of Constantine [5]

No surface traces were noted in the fields surrounding the farm. The majority of the land is under orchards. It is possible that the remains are that of a bath house or other ancillary building associated with TQ 96 SE 22 as this is located not far away. The NGR could therefore be inaccurate. Further archaeological investigation would be necessary to accurately locate the remains described and discover their condition and extent before they could be adequately evaluated as to their national importance. (6)

Additional references (7-12).

<1> The Reliquary, 1872-73, Article by George Bedo on archaeology in the parish of Luddenham, in the periodical the Reliquary (Article in serial). SKE12626.

<1> Southern Ocean Survey Company, 1996, Interim Report- Roman Buildings at Luddenham and Deerton Street, Near Faversham, Kent. July 1996 (Unpublished document). Ske12625.

<2> Field report for monument TQ 96 SE 24 - July, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4912.

<2> Wilkinson, Paul, 2000, The Swale District. An Archaeological Survey commisioned by Swale Borough Council, Gazetter site code: 190 (Unpublished document). SWX9332.

<3> Arch J 86 1929 300 (W Whiting) (OS Card Reference). SKE36715.

<3> The Reliquary, 1872-73, Article by George Bedo on archaeology in the parish of Luddenham, in the periodical the Reliquary (Article in serial). Ske12626.

<4> Field report for monument TQ 96 SE 24 - July, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4912.

<4> Philp, B. J., 1998, Roman Villas in the Swale Area (Article in serial). SWX7651.

<5> VCH Kent 3 1932 (R E Mortimer Wheeler) (OS Card Reference). SKE50985.

<6> English Heritage, English Heritage Alternative Action Report (Miscellaneous Material). SKE53762.

<7> VCH Kent 3 1932 (R E Mortimer Wheeler) (OS Card Reference). SKE50985.

<8> F1 ASP 16-JUL-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE42135.

<9> Anon., 1874, Roman remains in and near Faversham (Article in serial). SWX7519.

<10> Anon., 1874, Roman remains in and near Faversham (Article in serial). SWX7519.

<11> F1 ASP 16-JUL-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE42135.

<12> Philp, B. J., 1998, Roman Villas in the Swale Area (Article in serial). SWX7651.

Sources and further reading