Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A Roman aisled building, probably built in the early 2nd century and occupied into the Anglo-Saxon period.

Monument Types

• AISLED BUILDING (Roman to Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 100 AD to 650 AD?)

Associated Finds

• ANIMAL REMAINS (Roman to Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 43 AD to 650 AD)
• DRESSED STONE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• FLOOR (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• IMBREX (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• TEGULA (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• SHERD (Roman to Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 70 AD to 650 AD)
• COIN (Roman - 270 AD to 409 AD)
• SQUARE HEADED BROOCH (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 530 AD to 570 AD)

Full description

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Fieldwalking at Deerton Street in June 1996 located a concentration of Roman building material. A subsequent geophysical survey located two rectangular buildings [no extent or results are known for this survey]. (1)

In 2004-5 the site was excavated by the Kent Archaeological Field School. A number of trenches and test pits were opened across the area. A Roman aisled building was found. The building was built sometime in or after the late 1st century, perhaps in the early 2nd century. The building was c.35m long and entered via doorways in the long walls of the building. There were 20 piers creating the aisled interior. A cobbled surface was laid within the entrance in the 3rd century. The west wall apparently collapsed in the early 5th century. The building seemingly continued in use after this event with a timber construction replacing this end wall. The east end also collapsed and was replaced with a lighter structure. This reduced use of the structure apparently dates to the 5th-mid-7th century. Anglo-Saxon brooches and combs were found on the floor of the building. The building completely collapsed sometime in the mid-7th century. A cow was found beneath one of the collapsed piers within the building. Burnt timber and roof tiles were found overlying the latest deposits within the building. (2)

<1> Wilkinson, Paul, 2000, The Swale District. An Archaeological Survey commisioned by Swale Borough Council, 156 (Unpublished document). SWX9332.

<2> Kent Archaeological Field School, 2009, An archaeological investigation of the Roman aisled stone building at Hog Brook, Deerton Street, Faversham, Kent 2004-5 (Unpublished document). SKE24762.

Sources and further reading