Annual Report (1961)

ANNUAL REPORTS FOR THE YEARS 1960 AND 1961 ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER, 1961 Council presents its One Hundred and Third Report, and the Statement of Accounts for 196 I. OBITUARY It is with deep regret that Council reports the death of three distinguished members of the Society-Dr. Irene Churchill, Mr. W. P. D. Stabbing and Canon Standen. Dr. Churchill, who was a Vice-President of the Society a.nd a most valued member of the Records Publication Commit- tee, had been a member since 1923; she was the Honorary Editor of the publications of the Records Branch throughout the whole period of its existence. Mr. Stebbing joined the Society in 1925 and had given long service as a member of Council; from 1934 to 1947 he was the Honorary Editor of Arch<£ologia Oantiana and up to the time of his death act;ed as Local Secretary for the Deal and Walmer District. Canon Standen also had played an active part as a member of Council. The wisdom and knowledge of a.II three will be greatly missed by Council and the Society as a whole. Appreciations of Dr. Churchill and Mr. Stabbing, and of Mr. R. H. D'Elboux, an Honorary Member and former Honorary General Secretary, and Mr. F. H. Cripps Day, a member since 1911, appear in the present volume of ArchwologiaOantiana. BENlllF.A.OTIONS Council wish to record with very great gratitude, a gift of £6,000 from Mr. Margary. This, the second gift received from Mr. Margary, is by far the largest donation that the Society has ever received, and by itself more than doubles the Society's assets. Mr. Margary's gift was made as one of capital for use at the absolute discretion of Council, but with the suggestion that the income might be used for the purpose of the Society's publications. This suggestion has gladly been adopted by Council. ANNuAL GENERAL MEETING The Annual General Meeting was held at The Museum, Maidstone, on the 6th May, 1961, the President in the Chair. Cormcil's Annual Report and the Statement of Accounts for 1960 were received and adopted. In accordance with the request made at the Annual General Meeting in 1960, Council brought forward recommendations for increasing the subscription on the lines foreshadowed in the Annual Report. The Society's rules were amended as follows : From the 1st January, 1962 : Rule 5(b) : At beginning of Rule " Subject to the provisions of paragraphs (f) and (g) of this Rule " to be inserted, and in line 2 '' one pound ten shillings " to be substituted for " one pound ". (New) Rule 5(c) : A husband and wife both of whom are or become members and who receive jointly one copy of Archmologia Oantiana may pay a joint annual subscription of two pounds. lxii REPORT, 1961 Rule 5(c) : Renumber 5(d) ; in line 4 "one pound ten shillings" to be substituted for "one powid " ; and in line 3 substitute (e) for (d). Rule 5(d) : Renumber 5(e), and in line 3 substitute (d) for (c). (New) Rule 5(f) : The annual subscription payable by a member under the age of 21 years shall be one pound up to and including the year in which he attains that age. (New) Rule 5(g) : no further subscription shall be payable by a member who has pa.id fifty annual subscriptions. Existing Rule 5(e) : to be deleted (no longer of any effect). After the luncheon interval some 60 members and their friends listened to illustrated lectures by Mrs. Piercy Fox on Oaesar's Camp, Keston: excavations 1956-60, and by Mr. F. C. Elliston Erwood on Problems concerning the Water Supply at Lesnes Abbey. Those present greatly appreciated the afternoon's programme and the lecturers were warmly thanked by the President. MEMBERSHIP During the year 77 new members were elected. Mr. F. C. Elliston Erwood, a member of the Society since 1908, was elected an honorary member in recognition of his signal services. COUNCIL At the Annual General Meeting Miss Anne Roper, Mr. C.R. Councer, Mr. R.H. Goodsall, Mr. R.H. Hiscock, Canon A.O. Standen and Mr. P. J. Tester, who retired in rotation, were re-elected to Council. Dr. P.H. Reaney joined Council on the resignation of Mr. L.R . A. Grove. Mr. Grove's services are still available to Council in his capacity as Curator. During the year Council received with great regret the resignation from their number of Mr. R. F. Jessup, formerly an Honorary Editor of Archcoologia Oantiana, after a membership extending over 30 years. They would like to place on record their real appreciation of the services Mr. Jessup has rendered to the Society. HON. GENERAL SECRETARY It was with great regret that Council received the resignation of Mr. Frank W. Jessup from the post of Hon. General Secretary after ten years in that office. At the Annual General Meeting Mr. Jessup was elected as a Vice-President of the Society. At a subsequent Council Meeting the President presented him with a desk, a token of the very sincere gratitude and appreciation of a large number of members for his contribution to the Society over a decade. Miss Kathleen Spears, B.A., was elected Hon. General Secretary in succession to Mr. Jessup. LIBRARY A.ND COLLECTIONS The following additions by gift were made to the library and collections during the year : The Common -Place Boole of Faversham, gift of the President, Sir Thomas Neame, F.S.A. The Belgic Britons-Men of Kent in B.o. 55 (Sevenoaks, 1961), gift of the author, Dr. Gordon Ward, F.S.A. I.xiii REPORT, 1961 RECORDS PUBLICATION As forecast in the 1960 Report The Sevente,enth-Century Miscellany was published early in 1961 and about 220 of the issue of 500 have been sold so far. The Committee has asked Professor Du Boulay to undertake the_ general editorship of a medieval volume once again composed of five or six papers on varying subjects. It m hoped, however, that a prospectus of this volume will be available by the middle of 1962. The other scheme for which the Records Publications Committee is responsible is the proposed OaJ,endar of the White and Blaclc Books of the Cinque Ports. This will be a joint publication of the Kent Archreological Society and the Historical Manuscripts Commission and while it m still too early to give a probable date for publication, it can be said that the draft will, in all probability, be submitted to the Historical Manuscripts Commission prior to printing not later than mid-Summer, 1962. Dr. Hull is acting as editor of this volume . .A.RCHlEOLOGIA CANTIANA Volume LXXIV was published in April, 1961, and the contents maintain their traditional variety and interest. The special Volume LXXV, being Professor Jordan's study of Social Institutier of new members coming into the Society. By Order of the Council, KATHLEEN E. SPEARS, December, 1961. Honorary General, Secretary. APPENDIX I Reports from Local Secretaries and Groups Bexley Mr. P. J. Teater reports as follows : After months of dispute and in spite of much local protest, the eighteenth-century " Roman temple " in Danson Park was demolished by Bexley Council last May. The materials were secured by Sir David Bowes-Lyon and transported to his Hertfordshire home, presumably with the intention of re-erecting the temple there. In view of Sir David's subsequent death it is uncertain whether this plan will be carried out. Styleman's almshouses in Bexley village, built in 1755, have lately been drastically restored a.t a cost of £8,000. Their appearance has been altered by the insertion of additional windows in the upper storey, a change which detracts somewhat from the former well-proportioned frontage. The gravestone of their founder, John Styleman, has recently been brought to light in the S.W. corner of Bexley church by the removal of some pews and the re-siting of the font. The epitaph describes Styleman as a Director of the East India Company and gives the date of his death as 22nd August, 1734. Adjoining a.re the graves of his three wives, Amie, Arabella and Henrietta. A watch is being maintained on the gravel-workings S.E. of Hall Place, where numerous deer-antlers and flint flakes are being turned up. The latest find from here is a large saddle-quern which was a third of a mile from the site of the Roman building investigated in 1960, and is probably of an earlier period. Most likely it is indicative of a late prehistoric settlement in this locality near the banks of the Cray, the approximate National Grid Reference being TQ 505741. Bromley Mr. B. J. Philp reports on work by West Kent Border Excavation Growp. The West Kent Border Excavation Group completed its second season's work on Hayes Common, in 1961. Three more " buts " were examined and several trenches dug a.bout the Common. Several implements, flakes and pot-boilers were found in and around the buts, but their exact relationship to these features is far from clear. Two areas on the Common have produced concentrations of struck Hakes, waste and pot-boilers. Work continues during the Autumn and Winter months in the adjacent fields of West Wickham and Hayes. The Group also undertook limited excavations at Hayes Parish Church and at Hayes Court. Edenbridge and W esterharn (a) Mr. J. G. Irwin reports: Excavations were conducted under Mrs. Piercy Fox at the site of the Iron Age camp at Squercyes, near Westerham, in April. Ix.vii REPORT, 1961 Excavations were continued under l\.fr. James Money at a mesolithic site at Stonewall Park, Chiddingstone Roath. Two very fine Paleolithic (probably late Acheulian) implements-an axe and a scraper, the latter apparently made from a broken axe--were found during ploughing on Medhurst Row Farm,l Edenbridge parish. These are the first paleolithic finds recorded in the Eden valley, and in the opinion of Dr. K. P. Oakley they had perhaps been transported by solifluxion for some distance, but not far. They have been given to Tunbridge Wells Museum (June, 1961). An Edenbridge and District Historical Society was founded in November, 1961, and more than 60 registered as members at the first meeting. The K.A.S. Area Secretary has been elected Chairman. (b) Mrs. Piercy Fox reports on the Squerryes' Camp excavation: The Society is indebted to the landowner, Major J.B. O'B. Warde of Squerryes Court, to the Forestry Commission who have leased the land and to the Ministry of Works for permission to excavate and to the Ministry of Works for a grant of £50 towards the cost of the excavation. Dr. M. W. Thompson of the Inspectorate of Ancient Monuments took part in the excavation and the Society is indebted to him for help in many ways, also to my colleagues :M.r. D. L. Clarke, Peterhouse, Mr. Peter Tester and Mr. D. B. Kelly of Maidstone Museum. Dr. G. W. Dimbleby has undertaken the pollen analysis of the buried turf line. About 30 volunteers helped the team to get through a. great deal of hard work sometimes under inclement conditions and I would particularly mention the Vlth Form of Bromley High School for Girls. We also had volunteers from Beckenham Grammar School for Girls and Dulwich College and we are grateful to them all for their help. Boy Scouts under their District Commissioner, Mr. Scully, helped to clear the site prior to the excavation and to erect a Marquee kindly lent by Mr. and Mrs. Keith Coleborn. Visitors included the President, Mr. I. D. Margary, Mr. Elliston Erwood, ·Mr.Sheppard Frere, Mrs. M.A. Cotton, Dr. Ian Cornwall and Mr. Mulvaney, Mr. James Money, Mr. John Irwin, Local Secretary for Edenbridge, and the Excavation Committee. Before the excavation commenced on 29th March, the interior of the Camp, which is sited on the Hythe Beds of the Lower Greensand, had been cleared of trees and dense undergrowth as part of a tree-felling programme on the Squerryes Estate. This was a tremendous help to the excavation and visitors were fortunate in being able to see the Camp as a whole for the first time in many centuries. Squerryes Camp is sited on a humpbacked headland joined to the main escarpment of the Hythe Beds by an isthmus or neck of flat ground. The defences were planned to suit the topography, those across the flat neck or isthmus being different in character from the defences around the headland but both used the sandstone and chert of the Hythe Beds for defensive cresting and revetting. Two banks and one ditch cross the flat isthmus to form a strategic defence of military value. Around the headland a steap scarped slope was cut and revetted. This slope continued without interruption into a steep ditch with an outer bank. The outer bank commands the lower slopes of the headland. Sections were cut through both types of defence, the Isthmus section being supervised by Mr. D. L. Clarke and the Headland section by Mr. Tester and Mr. Kelly. Five sherds were found in the very bottom of the 1 Map ref. 465469. lxviii REPORT, 1961 ditch on the natural surface in this section and these five sherds could da.te the defences which are all of one period. The dating of the sherds is unfortunately not easy and is at present under discussion. Several Iron Age sherds were found in an extension of this section and medieval sherds from an extension of the Isthmus section. The paucity of finds posed the question where to look next for datable evidence. The gateways were not yet accessible for excavation and in view of the tree-planting programme of the Forestry Commission it was decided to strip a large area of the interior of the Camp mechanically. Nothing whatsoever was fow1d and the clean sand was seen undisturbed over the whole area examined. Finally an area adjoining the Spring below the Camp was examined and this site produced a few Roman sherds and a small quantity of medieval sherds but nothing of Iron Age date. Summarizing the results, we now know that the defences were of two types a bi-vallate system on the flat isthmus constructed by throwing the spoil upwards from the ditch, and around the headland a steep scarped slope with ditch and outer bank constructed by throwing the spoil downwards from the scarp slope and the ditch. Because of the outer bank this system can also be described as bi-val!ate. Both types of defence were laid out as one whole and if we follow Mr. A. L. F. Rivet they belong to the second B phase of the Iron age. The important Westerham hoard of Iron Age gold coins was found near the Camp. The hoard contained GalloBelgic A and C coins and the later British A (Westerham type) coins which date the hoard to the period c. 90 B.O. Gravesend M,·. A. F. Allen reports : During the course of building excavations upon land at the rear of the west side of High Street, Gravesend, a mechanical digger pulled up the contents of a medieval well which contained some interesting specimens of medieval and eighteenth-century pottery more or less intact. These items included : (a) a. broken Tudor glass beaker; (b) a Tudor watering pot almost complete with pottery rose; (c} two Bellamine jars one bearing the date 1603; (d} two eighteenth-century teapots one of them Staffordshire ware. All these items are now in possession of the Gravesend History Society and will be placed in the Gravesend Museum and I understand Mr. E. Tilly of Gravesend will be submitting a. more detailed report to the Society. The Roman Villa reported by roe in the 1960 issue of the A.O. has led to the discovery of a further Roman building some 150 ft. to the west of the building previously reported on a building site about to be developed. Fortunately the Ministry of Works were able to treat this as a matter of urgency and a complete excavation was carried out on behalf of the Ministry of Works by Mr. D. E. Johnson in August. The site proved to be a very interesting Roman building of villa type with a complete deep basement room some 40 ft. by 15 ft. Many interesting finds were made and I understand and hope that Mr. Johnson will be writing an account which the Society will be able to publish later. I think I should mention in connection with this report, that the map reference I gave in my previous report is obsolete ; the correct map reference for that find and the present find should read as follows-677729. hd.x REPORT, 1961 Orpington Mr. B. D. Stoyel reports: There was a brief mention in the last report of the pig-ring and the wheel-house at Halstead, which survived the demolition of Halstead Place in 1952. Unfortunately it now has to be recorded that the pig-ring was completely destroyed during 1961. The wheel-house is still standing, however, although its condition is deteriorating. Our member Mr. K. W. E. Gravett has examined the structure and has confirmed that it formerly contained a wheel worked by animal power for raising water from the well, as in the well-known example at Carisbrooke Castle. The wheel was a vertical one and was of exceptionally large diameter. It was almost certainly constructed in the eighteenth century. A more detailed note on these two structures is being prepared. Mr. A. Eldridge has reported that during the reconstruction and widening of part of Ramsden Road, Orpington, in June, 1961, along the north side of the Parish Churchyard, some traces were uncovered of a building which was, no doubt, one of the almshouses that had long been believed to have stood somewhere near this spot. In an article on " Some Kentish Charities, 1594" by Major F. Lambarde (Archreologia Oantiana, Vol. XXXI, p. 197) there is a reference to three almshouses at Orpington built by Sir Percival Hart and endowed by him with 25s. 8d. a year. These buildings disappeared a great many years ago and there was considerable doubt as to where they were situated. There was, however, a strong presumption that they had stood on a piece of ground formerly known as " Almshouse Orchard " and attached to Sir Percival Hart's house " Bark Hart " until it was added to the Churchyard in 1888 (See Trench: "The Story of Orpington", pp. 17, 30). The remains recently brought to light, which included some Elizabethan bricks, in conjunction with traces of two other buildings previously noted by Mr. Eldridge inside the Churchyard, seem to confirm the above suggestion ! and it can now be stated with reasonable confidence that these almshouses consisted of three small buildings in a straight line between the north wall of the Church and the south side of Ramsden Road. Reculver Mr. B. J. Philp reports : The Reculver Excavation Group completed its fifth season's work inside the Roman fort in March, September and October, 1961. Some 95 membera of the Group assisted with the several projects and all excavations were back-filled at the close, either by hand or mechanically. A system of trenches was dug across the eastern half of the central portion of the fort, in the area framed by the Intervallum Road (to the east), the Via Quintana (to the south) and the Via Principalis (to the north). The destruction of Roman and earlier levels over a large part of the fort by ploughing and erosion was again confumed. A ditch, of Iron Age date, first found in 1959 was traced for about 100 feet. A small metalled path running diagonally across the site seems to have been built by the cohort building the fort. Next to the east Intervallum road, :miing the area between the Via Quintana and the Via Principalis, were two buildings, one very substantial. The footings of the walls of both were composed of sandstone blocks held by clay, the superstructures probably having been timber-framed. They were divided from each other by a small gravel path. The smaller building, Jxx REPORT, 1961 a.bout 26 feet wide, had been burnt down. The larger structure, about 85 feet in length, consisted of a. number of rooms of varying sizes. Some had plaster on the walls painted in several colours. The floors were mostly of clay but one was found to have a large Opus Signinum patch with a oircular hole cut through it and later filled with a large brick. The complete plans of these buildings were not recovered but it seems likely that the larger was the Commandant's House and Officers' Quarters, positioned not many yards east of the Headquarters Building (found in 1960). The Intervallum Road was found to be 16 and 18 feet wide at these points. Other, and less important, features were examined and recorded. Over 100 coins, many "small-finds" and large quantities of pottery were recovered. The coins a.re mostly radiates or of the first ha.If of the fourth century A.D. The latest a.gain appears to be one of Magnentius (A.D. 350-3). None of first-century date and only a few worn second-century coins were found. The inscription found in the Sacellum in 1960 and now translated, indicates that the fort was built during the Consular Governorship of one Aulus Triarius Rufl.nus, between A.D, 210 and 216. A special nine-day excavation aimed at recovering from disturbed deposits the missing fragments of this inscribed tablet, failed. A bronze coin of Cunobelinus found early in 1961 is the eighth ancient British coin recorded as coming from the site. Further excavations are planned for 1962. RoclU!8ter Colonel E. T. L. Balcer reports: The area behind Rochester Com Exchange has lately undergone re-development necessitating the construction of a roadway from Corporation Street to provide access to the new premises. As this was planned to cross the line of the city wall, an emergency excavation, sponsored by the Ministry of Works, was undertaken at this point during May, 1961. The investigation was directed by Mr. P. J. Tester and valuable help was given by several local members of the Society. The old wall was discovered to exist for a depth of 11 feet below the present surface and its thickness, where the original facing was preserved, was 6ft. 10 in. On the outside, the lower courses of squared ragstone facing remained, the character of the work being exactly similar to that on the rounded corner at the S.E. angle of the Roman wall, as described by George Payne in Arch. Cant., XXI. There is no doubt in fact that this section of the wall behind the Corn Exchange is of Roman age, and no trace of medieval additions were noted. There were no tile bondingcourses, but at the foot of the outer face was a plinth 1 ft. 6 in. high and projecting a.bout 2 ft. Below the bottom course of stonework the wall was observed to rest on a thick footing of flints set in clay. Roman pottery was found in the lowest levels and seems to indicate that the wall was built towards the end of the second century A.D. A thirteenth-century occupation-level occurred five feet from the modern surface inside the wall, but the upper levels on the outer side had been disturbed by rubbish pits dug in the seventeenth century a.nd subsequently. Further notes and reports on excavations and discoveries in Rochester appear in Appendix II to this Report. Colonel Balcer forwards also the following report from Mr. M.A. Ocock on behalf of the newly-formed Lowe1· Medway Research Group. During the summer of 1961, the first phase of an air survey of the Medway valley was undertaken by the Research Group to provide additional lxxi REPORT, 1961 information to that already gained from the preparation of an index of published sites and finds in the area. In the neighbourhood of Eccles, crop marks in a wheat field (TQ72206057) at Rowe Place Farm gave indications of a building and photographs of the site revealed sufficient detail to enable the position and outline plan to be plotted. The crop marks in one place could also be seen from the ground and these ground observations confirmed the initial positioning of the building. The existence of a Romano-British villa in the area ha1:1 long been suspected as several small buildings of the period have already been excavated and there are a number of reports of sw·face debris being found. Approximately 100 yards, north-west of the site, foundations were discovered in 1919 when digging post holes and these have been marked on all recent Ordnance Survey maps as site of "Ro111AN BUII,J)ING ". A small trial excavation was therefore carried out during August by memhers of the Group, which confirmed in a number of places the existence of walls indicated by the crop marks. Over the whole of the site explored there was a hard-packed layer of building debris which contained numerous potsherds mainly of Romano-British Coarse Ware but also one or two fragments of Samian. It is hoped to begin a full excavation next year and a l'eport will be issued in due course. Sandwich Dr. J. D. Ogilvie reports: Updown Farm, Eastry. 200 yards north-east of the farmhouse is a depression with the appearance of a ploughed-out shallow chalk-pit (TR 321540). A subsidence at the side of this led to the discovery by the farmer, Mr. W. Hogben, of a. chamber cut into the chalk. It was rectangular, 6 ft. by 4 ft. and 6 ft. in height. The roof was arched and showed narrow pick marks. Entrance was from a small vestibule, reached from a short shaft, and apparently leading on the opposite side to another similar chamber, which had been filled by a fall of chalk and earth from the roof. The whole structure appeared to be a. chalk mine. Glaypits, Goodneetone (TR 259553). County Council worlanen digging a soak-away for road drainage, found bones at a depth of 5 ft., lying in gravel (Coombe rock). Investigation showed part of a broken tusk, 5 ft. long, still in site. Dr. A. J. Sutcliffe of the Natural History Museum, identified it as being from a Mammuthus Primigenius. He excavated a femur, a lower jaw and parts of a humerus and scapula, apparently from the same mammoth. It is probable that further bones lie nearby and it is hoped that further excavation will be possible. Wingham. Completion of the water-main trench mentioned in the Report for 1960 produced Belgic pottery (fragments of a plate and a considerable quantity of combed ware) at Rushams (TR 25035854) ; medieval pottery under the Canterbury-Sandwich road (A 257) ; and fragments of a Bronze Age pot (Abercromby type B2) at Neavy Downs (TR 24425641). Sevenoaks Lieut. Col. G. W. MeatMJ reports: Franks Hall near Farn·ingham. Further excavation of the Romano-British villa was continued during the summer of 1961, under the direction of Mr. J. Ritson, and the southern half of the building was completely excavated down to the natural sub-soil. Drainage gullies were found to bound the original building on west and south, and three parallel beam-slots with a fourth 1xxii REPORT, 1961 at right-angles to them were discovered within the house cut into the sub-soil. These suggest a wooden construction forming part of the earliest building, dated in the second half of the first century. The two gullies contained much pottery of native fabric but of Belgic form, and with this were associated three native tin coins. The first occupation may be placed soon after the middle of the first century, and occupation seems to have been continuous to the end of the fourth century, when the channel hypocaust at the south-west corner was filled in and a new tiled floor laid over it. The building, which was not destroyed by fire, ceased to be used early in the fifth century. The northern half will be completely excavated during the 1962 season. LuUingstone. Excavation was suspended in 1961 to allow the Ministry of Works to prepare for the erection of the protective building. The valley sewer, which passed through the east frontage of the villa, was successfully diverted into its new channel, and the site now awaits the contractors. AfFENDlX II Excavations and Discoveries in Rochester 1959-61 (a) Excavations on the Oity Wall, 1960 : report from A. C. Harrison and 0. R. Flight. During the summer term the Archreological Society of Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School, Rochester, conducted an excavation at the foot of the Cit,y Wall north of Eastga.te. Considerable light was shed upon the structural history of the wall at this spot, at least three building phases having been distinguished. Further excavation is needed before a detailed report can appear. (b) Discoveries, 1959-60 : report from Raymond E. Chaplin High Street. Alterations being made in the cellars of No. 86 and No. 88 revealed a. Roman building beneath No. 86. The building comprised the front wall with an entrance on to Watling Street and an extensive clay floor. The wall of the Priory of Saint Andrew built c. 1344-45 was found running east-west across the site and is preserved in the brick arches of the cellar. 82 High Street. Through the courtesy of Mr. K. Ashby I was able to examine a terra-cotta head which had been found in the garden in 1924. The head was of Osiris/Serapis and was found associated with loose tesserae. Deanery Garden. While laying sewer pipes for the New Deanery a number of medieval buildings were out through which appear to be the remains of early monastic buildings. One clay floor was dated by pottery to the eleventh century, and a second clay floor to the thirteenth century. A third building lay to the south-east and its mortar floor sealed an interesting tip of thirteenth-century rubbish. Strood High Street Re-development. A drainage trench cut across the approaches to Rochester Bridge revealed a layer of smooth flagstones and a number of timber piles at a depth of 3 ft. embedded in blue river mud. This appears to be a continuation of what George Payne identified as a.Roman road at the same depth some 400 yards west of this point. I do not think t,he present discovery can be identified with certainty as a Roman wall, it may well be of seventeenth-century date. lxxiii REPORT, 1961 To the north of the High Street the timbers of a number of houses were noted. Judging from finds of shoes, pottery and documentary evidence these appear to have been in use during the sixteenth century. Rochester Oathedral. Whilst installing the heating system for the Cathedral which necessitated cutting through the fmmdations of the south wall, a number of graves were found. These graves were sealed by the Cathedral foundations. The skeletons which lay parallel to the Cathedral wall with their heads to the west may well be part of the burial gronnd of the Saxon Church. The skeletons had been buried in wooden coffins and no grave goods were found. City Walls. Part of the Castle wall on the Esplanade had long been thought to be part of the core of the Roman town walls. Restoration of these walls enabled the writer to examine in detail the construction of the wall face. The mortar of the supposed Roman portion was extremely hard and there remained part of a bonding course of Roman brick. The mortar is quite distinct from all medieval mortar in the city and it may be confidently asserted that this is part of the Roman town wall. A cutting against the outer face of the eastern part of the City wall in Free School Lane provided an interesting view of the foundations of the Medieval wall. The wall at this point rises to its full height with crenellations and there are three offsets. From documentary evidence it is known that the City moat was dug about 1225 and considerable work done on the eastern walls and also that Edward the Third refaced and crenellated the eastern wall. (c) Excavations 1961 : report from A. O. Harrison forwarded by Colonel .E. T. L. Balcer. During 1961 the Archreological Society of Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School has excavated on three aitea within the City. Mr. P. J. Tester has given invaluable help and encouragement, and to him and to the landowners concernerl, Mr. ,John Leonard and the City Corporation, the Society is extremely grateful. 1. A week's digging was possible in a cellar behind the Old Corn Exchange before rebuilding began in May. A build-up of seven Roman floors, dating from mid-first century to the end of the second century, was found and produced a series of stratified and closely dated pottery. This was, presumably, part of the domestic quarters of a house or shop fronting on the High Street. Cut through this was a flight of medieval stone steps leading to a cellar of thirteenth-century date. Flanking the steps was a latrine-pit, carefully constructed of chalk and flints set in mortar. In t-his, besides other pottery and the head of an iron pick-axe, were found almost all the fragments of an imported polychrome jug, c. 1280-1300, decorated with leaves and buds. 2. A section was excavated against the face of the Roman wall in the garden behind Messrs. Leonard's in Rochester High Street. (This is " Mias Spong's Garden ", where George Payne and Canon Livett dug in 1894, as reported in Arch. Oant., XXI.) The inner face of the wall was exposed to its foundations. At this point it is still 17 ft. high with two offsets. The bottom 9 ft. of the wall were sealed by the undisturbed bank of sub-soil clay heaped up against it when it was built and was quite unweathered. Enclosed in this bank (in which was found pottery not closely datable but suggestive of the second half of the second century), and cut away in front by the foundation-trench of the wall itself was the stump of lxxiv REPORT, 1961 an earlier clay rampart-bank. This stood upon a foundation of flints la.id upon the original turf-line and the pottery from this bank is consistent with a mid-second-century date. It would appear, therefore, that at least on the east side of Rochester, a clay rampart preceded by a fairly short period the stone wall, a sequence that has previously been established elsewhere but not until now in Rochester. Sealed beneath the flint foundations of the rampart-bank was a small pit containing, shattered but clearly inta,.ct when buried, a Belgic pearshaped, pedestal-based urn. It contained no ashes and probably represented a native offering of some sort,. Among small finds, two were of some interest. First,Jy in the medieval deposit overlaying the Roman bank was part of a medieval mould designed for casting a circular trinket or token in the form of a curiously stylized (and so far unidentified) beast; secondly, in the loam underlying the rampart-bank was part of a "pseudo-Venus" figurine in pipe-clay. 3. In an excavation in North-gate Street on the site of some recently demolished cottages 7 ft. of the Roman town wall were uncovered, which included a Culvert 12 in. wide and 18 in. high, passing through it at a slight angle. This drain seems never to have been completed as it was enclosed in a bank of muddy brown earth piled against the wall apparently as soon as it was built. No trace was found here of any fire-wall rampart, nor was there an indication of the Roman gate. Presumably the former did not exist on the north side of the town and the latter may have been no more than an arched opening in the wall, now hidden beneath the roadway. Pottery from the bank, which included one fragment of Castor ware, is consistent with a late second-century date. In medieval times the Roman bank was levelled and upon it was built a substantial wall running at right angles t,o the city wall. The exact thickness could not be ascertained but it was more than 3 ft. and fragments of decorated pottery from its foundations were of mid-thirteenth-century date. It seems probable that this represents the medieval gate-house. Later a circular building wai:i constructerl in the angle between the tower and the wall. The purpose of this is conjectural and it was demolished by the sixteenth century. lxxv