Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

`U' earthwork and track - Samian and Romano-British sherds

Monument Types

• TRACKWAY (TRACKWAY, Unknown date)
• FINDSPOT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)

Associated Finds

• SHERD (Roman - 100 AD to 199 AD)

Full description

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[TR 04372149] Earthwork [NR] (1) At TR 044215 there is an earthwork, 110ft square, with outside ditch and an entrance on the north. From the entrance a "track" leads north-east. It is visible in the field called "Sandybanks" or "Sandylands" (TR 049219), along the rear of Lydd Isolation Hospital grounds, and to the Lydd-Romney road, beyond which point it is not seen. In 1951, ploughing in "Sandylands" revealed Samian and RB sherds on the line of the track. These were dated by the B.M. to the C2nd AD. (2) Earthwork and track visible. (3) This earthwork is as described above, but is in poor condition, being mutilated by gravel-pits and a track. It is situated upon a slight ridge with its SE side bordering on former marshland, and is probably a stock enclosure or refuge. (Divorced survey at 1:1250). The course of the track is marked by a row of chicken houses so sited to take advantage of the raised dry strip of gravel. (4) The earthwork has been destroyed. (5) In 1951, ploughing of pasture produced a quantity of Romano-British pottery including coarse ware and samian, mostly of 2nd century date. This was in an area known as Sandybanks. (6) Archaeological evaluation by trenching in 1999 following a geophysical survey (9)discovered that enclosure contained well preserved ditches though no evidence of banks. No other features were discovered. There was no pottery dating from the ditches. The complete lack of features and general lack of finds suggests that the enclosure was not intended for occupation and was probably a stock enclosure.(10).

<1> OS 1:1250 1958 (OS Card Reference). SKE48176.

<2> Jones, I., 1953, Researches and Discoveries in Kent: Roman Remains on Lydd, Arch Cant 66 1953 160-1 (I Jones) (Article in serial). SKE7807.

<3> Charles Spom (OS Card Reference). SKE38947.

<4> APs CPE/UK/1752/3007-8 and 36/MEW/T61/Pt II/5076-7 (OS Card Reference). SKE34284.

<5> F1 ASP 22-MAR-1963 (OS Card Reference). SKE42236.

<6> LS Reviser (JD Graham 16.7.76) (OS Card Reference). SKE46206.

<7> Brian Philp, 1982, Romney Marsh and the Roman Fort at Lympne, KAR 68 1982 185 (BJ Philp) (Article in serial). SKE7806.

<8> Field report for monument TR 02 SW 5 - March, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE5069.

<9> GSB Prospection, 1998, Geophysical Survey Report 98/132, Allens Bank, Lydd (Unpublished document). SKE6618.

<10> John Samuels Archaeological Consultants, 1999, An archaeological evaluation excavation at Allens Bank, Lydd (Unpublished document). SKE6619.

Sources and further reading