Excavation of a Medieval Settlement at Pond Field Littlebrook Dartford

281 EXCAVATION OF A MEDIEVAL SETTLEMENT AT POND FIELD, LITTLEBROOK, DARTFORD c.r. baker and a.n. herbert The excavation took place on a medieval habitation site which had previously been investigated during the 1940s by Harold Mair (TQ 5587 7561), c.5m above od.1 The site was relocated and excavated between April and August 1973 by the Dartford and Darent Valley Archaeological Group (now Dartford District Archaeological Group), under the Directorships of Roger Walsh and Jim Conway. The excavation was carried out with the permission of the Central Electricity Generating Board who had acquired the former farmland for gravel extraction for use in the construction of Littlebrook D Power Station (Figs 1 and 2). The fields surrounding the site had, over the years, produced a number of archaeological discoveries and features, some pre-dating the medieval site under investigation.2 During the nineteenth century, Flaxman Spurrell examined features north of Littlebrook which he called the Saxon tide walls.3 The area comprises an alluvial soil over peat, covering natural gravel (the Blackheath Beds). North of the site lies the River Thames and to the south is Temple Hill, consisting of gravel and chalk deposits. At the time of the excavation, Pond Field was dissected by an access road to Littlebrook Power Station, the area under investigation lying to the west of this road. The field was planted with a crop of radishes. The site was located on a gravel terrace cut across by a peat-filled creek which may have originally fed the pond after which the field was named. The part of the field lying to the east of the access road was not excavated. During the term of office of Dunstan, who became Archbishop of Canterbury in 959, Alfege gave two-thirds of his lands in Littlebroc, along with other property, to the Cathedrals of Canterbury and Rochester. This land was later withheld by Leofsune, who had married the widow of Eadric, Alfege’s nephew, but the archbishop later recovered it for Canterbury and Rochester in a trial held at Erhede (now Crayford).4 Around 988, after the death of Dunstan, Littlebrook came into the possession of Ethelred, King C.R. BAKER AND A.N. HERBERT 282 of England. In the year 995, he gave Stone and Littlebrook to Godwyn, the Bishop of Rochester.5 Following the Conquest, Stone, along with other properties owned by Rochester Cathedral, was seized by Odo, Bishop of Bayeux. These were soon recovered by Archbishop Lanfranc, at the king’s command, in 1076 at an Assembly at Penenden Heath. Lanfranc immediately restored them to Bishop Gundulf and Rochester Cathedral, and this was confirmed by Archbishop Anselm in 1101, and several of his successors.6 The 1086 Domesday Book of William I confirms that the Bishop of Rochester owned Estanes (Stone) and, along with it, but unrecorded, Littlebrook. The record shows 12 smallholders, 11 ploughs, a mill, a fishery, woodland and sixty pigs. Littlebrook is referred to in ancient charters as Littlebroc and Lytlanbroce. It once belonged to the Manor of Stone and from time to time parts of it were donated to Rochester Cathedral.7 A reference to the Manor in 1255 refers to ‘fourteen acres of meadow or grass on the marsh’.8 About 1300 the Manor of Littlebrooke was held from the Bishop by Laurence Brooke. Roger Northwood took over ownership Fig. 1 Site Location. EXCAVATION OF A MEDIEVAL SETTLEMENT AT POND FIELD, LITTLEBROOK 283 Fig. 2 Site Plan. C.R. BAKER AND A.N. HERBERT 284 at Brooke’s death in 1330 for ten years. In 1333, the Bishop of Rochester, Hamo de Hythe, gave orders for a new wall against the Thames to be built following a visit to Stone.9 In 1340 the land passed to John de Northwood for a further twenty-five years until he died in 1365. Northwood is also believed to have been in possession of Stone Castle. By 1402 the land had been passed to John Loffwyke.10 At his death, the lands came to the Apylton family, passing through the generations until Lady Appleton died in 1719. The manor was then bought by the Stone family. Later occupants were the Solomon family for most of the nineteenth century until Thomas Peerless took possession in about 1890.11 In 1946 work commenced on new council housing, the Temple Hill estate, which covered most of the lands of Littlebrook, leaving Kings Field, Pond Field, Nine Acres and the marshes undeveloped. Pond Field and Nine Acres continued to be farmed until 1973, when gravel extraction took place in the adjacent Kings Field and part of Pond Field, prompting the investigation of the site by DDAG. The Excavation Investigation began on an area where a scatter of chalk and tile was noted. Initial trial trenches revealed rectangular flint-walled structures, and the investigation progressed into an open grid excavation. Mechanical removal of the topsoil in the nearby areas revealed other features, notably chalk rafts to the south (identified as huts R and S) and north-west (huts A, H and T) of the main buildings. To the north more chalk features, much plough-damaged, were located (features K, L, N, P and Q), along with two separate corners of flint-walled structures (M1 and M2). In total, seven rectangular flint-walled structures were located, some extensively robbed of materials, whilst at least nine round huts were identified, each approximately 7m in diameter, constructed of wood with chalk flooring (Fig. 3). It is believed that most of these structures were roofed with thatch or turf, although one at least was surrounded by a scatter of roofing tiles. Evidence of some rebuilding of a flint-walled building was found (Building C), and to the south-east of this structure, an area of burnt ground was discovered. Occupation dates were assessed from finds evidence, comprising 666 ceramic sherds, pegged roofing tiles, metalwork and stone, dated to between c.1250-1350. Evidence for the manner of use of these buildings is unclear although a farmstead is more likely than temporary structures for Thames Wall builders, as had been suggested by Mair.12 Details of the excavated buildings are set out below. Building A (Grids V-B1, 58-56): a sub-circular chalk raft, measuring between 5.5-6.7m in diameter, but much damaged by the plough. It EXCAVATION OF A MEDIEVAL SETTLEMENT AT POND FIELD, LITTLEBROOK 285 Fig. 3 Site Plan showing rectangular foundation walls in detail. C.R. BAKER AND A.N. HERBERT 286 Fig. 4 North to South Cross-section of Building D. EXCAVATION OF A MEDIEVAL SETTLEMENT AT POND FIELD, LITTLEBROOK 287 was built on to the gravel, with evidence of three postholes with flint packing, one centrally placed, the other two possibly representing the entrance. All traces of the occupational floor level had been ploughed away. A few sherds were recovered from this feature, but there were no roofing tile fragments. This could suggest that the building was either turfed or thatched. Building B (Grids J-N, 14-22): partial remains of a rectangular, flintwalled structure forming part of a complex of buildings, erected on a chalk raft and overlying a thick peat deposit, over natural gravel. The surviving east wall, 7.5m long, showed a slight misalignment. This appeared to be caused by the building being lengthened from 3.6m to a total length of 9m. The width of the building could not be established, but it was in excess of 3m. The chalk floor was 18cm thick and was laid directly onto peat at its southern end. A gulley filled with clay and tile was located below the floor. There was a scatter of roofing tiles at the north-eastern end of the building. The walls of this building were 29cm thick and constructed of knapped flint set in a lime and sand mortar. Only one course of flintwork survived. Building C (Grids Q-T, 25-27): only one wall, c.29cm in width, was located, comprising one course of flints in mortar. It would appear that the building had fallen into disuse and been almost entirely robbed away. There was no evidence of flooring associated with this structure. Building D (Grids E-Q, 23-33): the most complete rectangular structure recorded on the site was of a later period of construction than Buildings B and C (Fig. 4). It measured 8.4m by 7.7m, with flint-mortared walls of an average width of 30cm (Plate I). More than sixty per cent of the walls had been robbed or ploughed away but fortunately the foundation trench and associated debris could be traced for most of its length. The north-west wall was from an earlier structure, possibly the missing south-east wall of Building C. Centrally placed in the structure was a hearth, 1.6 x 1.8m, formed of pegged roofing tiles set on edge. The floor was of clay, in which the tiles were set in a diagonal pattern, meeting centrally from each outside edge (Plate II). The surviving floor was mainly of clay which sealed an earlier rubbish pit, mainly filled with oyster shell, and an earlier, tiled surface (c.40 x 36cm), to the north-west of the later central hearth. The absence of roof tiles from and above the clay floor indicates that this building may have been thatched or turfed. Building E (Grids H-J, 33-34): this was represented by remnants of flint in clay walls, approximately 30cm wide, butting up to, and passing under, the floor of Building D. The size of the building could not be C.R. BAKER AND A.N. HERBERT 288 View looking east, showing mortared flint foundation walls and central tiled hearth (Building D) Plate I View looking west, showing tile pattern of hearth, with a small tiled surface to the right (north) (Building D) Plate II EXCAVATION OF A MEDIEVAL SETTLEMENT AT POND FIELD, LITTLEBROOK 289 ascertained. It appears to have fallen into disuse before the construction of Building D. Building F (Grids T-V, 24-26): this was represented by remnants of flint mortared walls and compacted clay floors. Building H (Grids J1-R1, 58-63): this building comprised a chalk raft, much plough-damaged, edged with flint and surrounded by a substantial scatter of pegged roofing tiles. It appears to be similar to Building A, apart from the roof covering. Building K (outside grid area): 140m north-west of Building D. Represented by a plough damaged chalk raft floor. Buildings L, N, P, and Q: in the vicinity of Building K. All roughly circular, much plough-damaged, with chalk raft floors. Revealed by mechanical earth removal, and bearing a resemblance to buildings A and H. Buildings M1 and M2: in same area as buildings L, N, P and Q, these consisted of two mortared-flint corner sections of rectangular buildings. Both showed evidence of chalk floors, laid over the natural gravel. Overall dimensions of these buildings could not be determined. Buildings R and S (outside grid area): 85m south-west of Building D. Comprising roughly circular, badly plough-damaged chalk rafts. Revealed by mechanical earth removal, and similar to Buildings A and H. (Not shown on plan.) Other features discovered at the site: Pit H7 (Grids F-H, 7-8): circular rubbish pit containing bone and pottery sherds. Burnt area (Grid F 21): charred area with flecks of charcoal, but with a notable absence of ceramic, metal or bone artefacts. Pit Q 16: a shallow pit, filled with oyster shell and bone. [Note: References G, I, J and O were not used.] finds Bone based on work by the late Derrick Rixson with Peter Rixson Only a small amount of bone was recovered from this site, the species represented being cattle (ox), sheep/goat, pig and horse, plus one example C.R. BAKER AND A.N. HERBERT 290 from a fallow or immature red deer. Bone finds were primarily from rubbish pits and from Buildings B, C and D. This last mentioned building, with its two tiled hearths is considered to be a communal kitchen. There was evidence of chopping on a number of bone fragments. The analysis of the bone fragments from pig show a predominance of bones from the head (jaw bones and teeth), whereas the other species were represented by wider skeletal evidence. The total amount of bone recovered was too small a sample for any valid conclusion to be reached, except that cattle/ox, sheep/goats, swine and horse were all represented, and that some had been used for food. Little evidence of fish bones survive due to their fineness and the acidity of the ground conditions, although with a tributary and the River Thames in close proximity, fish would very likely have formed part of the diet. Oyster, whelk and mussel shells were, however, found on the site. Pottery by the late Christopher St John Breen, with Dr Alan Vince and Ann Jenner The majority of ceramic finds are from the thirteenth/fourteenth century. There are several wares represented in the finds; hard sandy wares, brown, grey and black fabrics, the majority tempered with shell, chalk or vegetable matter. A small amount of green glazed ware was also found. Full details of the ceramic finds are in Tables 1-5 and selected items are illustrated at Figs. 5 and 6. Most of the bases found were of the convex (‘saggy’) type. The wares were predominantly for domestic use, comprising cooking pots, jars, bowls and jugs/pitchers, and were plain and functional, apart from one cooking pot. This had vertical thumb/finger strips applied to the wall of the pot. Analysis of the fabrics indicates that the majority of the vessels were relatively local, i.e. from London and Kent. The majority of post medieval ceramic finds occurred in an unstratified layer of a field that had been much plough-damaged. A minimal amount of Romano-British wares, dating from the second-fourth centuries, is attributed to the construction of the foundations of the rectangular structures disturbing earlier habitation layers. TABLE 1. TOTAL SHERD COUNT Stratified Unstratified Total Body sherds 249 267 516 Rims 33 54 87 Bases 32 31 63 Total 666 EXCAVATION OF A MEDIEVAL SETTLEMENT AT POND FIELD, LITTLEBROOK 291 TABLE 2. ANALYSIS OF VESSELS Rim Sherds Jugs/Pitchers Pricked strap handle 13 Slashed strap handle 1 Plain rod handle 1 Vertical rim, Rouen copy 1 Plain rim neck, beaded and carinated 3 Total 19 Pots/Bowls Cooking Pots 10 Bowls 3 Jars 1 Total 14 Base Sherds Cooking Pots/Bowls 22 Jugs 2 Total 24 TABLE 3. ANALYSIS OF STRATIFIED POTTERY WARES AND TILES Mill Green ware 16 London type ware 7 Kingston ware 5 Coarse border ware 4 Dartford rilled ware 2 Surrey ware 1 Mill Green polychrome ware 2 Imitation Rouen ware 1 Rouen stoneware 4 Local wares 14 Fawkham Manor Grey Ware 2 Total 58 Pegged roofing tiles 18 Glazed floor tile 1 Total 19 TABLE 4. CERAMIC FINDS Sherd Ref. No./Description Date Illus. No. Rubbish Pit (Grid Ref. H7) LB32(1) 2 body sherds, hard sandy grey ware with sand inclusions 13/14th c - LB32(3) 1 base, hard sandy ware as above 13/14th c - C.R. BAKER AND A.N. HERBERT 292 Sherd Ref. No./Description Date Illus. No. LB32(6) 2 base sherds, hard, sandy light brown fabric core, chalk inclusions, local ware 13/14th c - LB32(7) 1 body sherd, London ware 1130-1350 - LB32(8) Sandy brown/grey fabric, shell inclusions, local ware as LB142(8) 13/14th c - LB32(9) 1 rim, flanged pot 23cm diameter, cream/grey fabric, pricking on rim. Surrey ware 14th c 1 (9b) 1 rim, flanged bowl 32cm diameter, London type ware 1130-1350 2 LB32(10) I body sherd, Mill Green Ware 1250-1350 - LB32(11) 1 base sherd, hard, sandy wheel thrown fabric with chalk inclusions 1200-1300 - LB32(12) 3 flanged 33cm diameter rim/wall sherds, brown/grey fabric shell tempered, as LB32(8) 13/14th c 3 LB42(1) 1 base sherd, fabric as LB32(8) 13/14th c - OutsideBuilding B (M15) LB131(1) 2 body sherds, fabric as LB32(1) 13/14th c - LB131(2) 1 base, hard sandy dark grey/orange 13/14th c - LB131(4) 1 saggy base, hard sandy, light brown fabric/ core, chalk inclusions 13/14th c - LB131(36) 1 everted rim/wall of jug, 14cm diameter, fabric as LB32(8) 13/14th c 4 LB132(1) 1 body sherd, fabric as LB32(1) 13/14th c - LB132(3) 1 body sherd, fabric as LB32(8) 13/14th c - LB133(1) 1 body sherd, fabric as LB32(1) 13/14th c - LB133(5) 1 triangular rim, 32cm diameter, 1 base London type ware 1130-1350 5 Inside Walls of Building B (Q16) LB141(3) 2 body sherds Kingston ware 1250-1400 - LB141(4) 1 rim, 11cm diameter/stabbed strap handle, London type ware 1130-1350 6 LB141(5) 1 base, Mill Green ware 1250-1400 - LB141(6) 1 everted bead rim, 22cm diameter jug, fabric as LB32(12) 13/14th c 7 LB141(K/ T) 1 flanged rim, 11cm diameter, carinated neck, light brown fabric, black core 13/14th c 8 Rubbish Layer Context, inside Building B LB142(1) 1 body sherd, fabric as LB32(1) 13/14th c - LB142(2) 45 body sherds, hard sandy, light brown fabric, chalk inclusions, vertical thumb/finger strip 13/14th c - LB142(3) 1 saggy base, hard sandy brown, grey core, black fabric 13/14th c - EXCAVATION OF A MEDIEVAL SETTLEMENT AT POND FIELD, LITTLEBROOK 293 Sherd Ref. No./Description Date Illus. No. LB142(6) 4 saggy base match break sherds, 30cm diameter, fabric as LB131(4) 13/14th c - LB142(7) 1 saggy base fabric as LB32(6) 13/14th c - LB142(8) 1 saggy base, hard, sandy brown/grey fabric, shell inclusions as LB32(8) 13/14th c - LB142(9) 2 base match break sherds, jug London type ware 1130-1350 - LB142(10) 1 body sherd Dartford rilled ware (note - flanged rim recovered from unstratified layer) 14th c - LB142(11) 5 rim/wall/base sherds, 28cm diameter, fabric as LB32(8) 13/14th c - Peat Layer inside Building B LB143(2) 1 saggy base, 15cm diameter, fabric as LB131(4) 13/14th c - LB143(3) 1 body sherd, fabric as LB32(8) 13/14th c - LB143(4) 1 body sherd, fabric as LB32(8) 13/14th c - LB144(1) 4 body sherds Raeren stoneware 1480-1550 - LB144(4) 1 saggy base, 28cm diameter, handmade, fabric as LB131(4) 13/14th c - LB144(5) 1 body sherd, fabric as LB32(8) 13/14th c - LB144(6) 1 body sherd, Mill Green ware 1230-1350 - LB144(7) 1 flanged rim/wall 30 cm diameter, cream/grey fabric and core, grit inclusions 14th c 9 Ditch inside Walls of Building B (P19) LB182(1) 7 body sherds sandy cream ware, large jar, vertical strips of green/brown glaze, possibly imported from Essex Late 13th c - LB182(2) 3 body sherds jug, coarse border ware 1350-1500 - Next to Burnt Area, East of Building D (F21) LB152(1) 1 body sherd Mill Green polychrome ware Early 14th c - Inside Walls of Building C (T27) LB212(1) 1 body sherd, fabric as LB32(1) 13/14th c - LB212(3) 1 base, 29cm diameter, fabric as LB131(4) 13/14th c - LB212(4) 1 flanged rim/wall, 25cm diameter, fabric as LB32(8) 13/14th c 10 LB212(5) 1 body sherd, coarse border ware 1250-1500 - LB212(6) 1 flanged rim/wall 80cm diameter, fabric as LB32(8) 13/14th c 11 LB212(7) 1 body sherd, Kingston ware 1250-1400 - Outside Walls of Building C (R41) LB230 1 bead rim, 16cm diameter, hard, black fabric, shell tempered 13/14th c 12 C.R. BAKER AND A.N. HERBERT 294 Sherd Ref. No./Description Date Illus. No. Outside Walls of Building D (Q27) LB274(1) 1 jug rim/wall, grooved handle, hard, sandy light orange fabric, grey core, chalk inclusions 13/14th c - LB275(1) 1 flanged rim/wall, 23cm diameter, fabric as LB32(8) 13/14th c 13 LB282(5) 2 sherds saggy base cooking pot, match break, 32cm diameter, fabric as LB131(4) 13/14th c 14 LB282(6) 1 body sherd Mill Green polychrome ware 14th c - LB282(7) 1 rim wall, Kingston ware 1250-1400 - LB282(8) 1 body sherd London ware 1250 - 1400 - LB282(9) 1 body sherd, fabric as LB32(8) 13/14th c - LB282(10) 1 jug rim/ 2 base sherds, Mill Green ware 1270-1350 - LB283(1) 2 saggy bases, 21cm diameter, orange grey fabric and core 13/14th c - LB283(2) 1 jug rim, plain, vertical, 9.6cm diameter, fabric as above 13/14th c - Clay Floor Phase 1, Building D LB284(1) 1 jug strap handle 3.6cm wide, 1.3cm thick, black fabric 13/14th c 15 LB284(3) 1 base, hard, sandy grey fabric, sand inclusions, as Fawkham Manor type 13th c - LB284(4) 1 body sherd London ware 1250 - 1400 - LB284(5) 1 body sherd, fabric as LB32(8) 13/14th c - LB284(6) 1 flange rim, black fabric, chalk inclusions 13th c - LB284(8) 1 body sherd London ware 1250-1400 - Inside Walls of Building D (oyster shell pit) (L33) LB285 1 jug rim/handle, 1.1cm diameter, hard brown fabric handle with plait pattern 13/14th c 16 LB285(1) 1 body sherd, soapy texture, pale brown fabric, shell inclusions, local ware 13/14th c - LB285(2) 1 saggy base, fabric as above, handmade 13/14th c - LB285(3) 1 saggy base, 36cm diameter, fabric as LB131(4) 13/14th c - Outside Wall of Building D LB286(1) 1 jar base, Romano-British ware from Mucking, Essex 3rd/4th c - LB286(3) 1 saggy pot base, 28cm diameter, fabric as LB131(4) 13/14th c - LB286(4) 1 body sherd, fabric as LB32(11) 1300-1400 - EXCAVATION OF A MEDIEVAL SETTLEMENT AT POND FIELD, LITTLEBROOK 295 Sherd Ref. No./Description Date Illus. No. LB286(5) 1 rim/wall, 22cm diameter, hard, sandy brown/grey fabric, as LB32(8) 13/14th c 17 LB286(6) 2 bead rims, jug, match break, 9.6cm diameter Rouen copy, sandy cream/salmon fabric 14th c 18 LB288(2) 1 body sherd London ware 1250-1400 - LB288(4) 1 flange rim/wall, hard, sandy ware, brown fabric, chalk inclusions, local ware 13/14th c - Ditch inside Building D(M26) LB202(1) 2 match break everted rim/wall sherds, large jar 24cm diameter, hard sandy grey fabric as Fawkham Manor type 13th c 19 Circular Hut (outside grid) LB301(1) 1 pot base, soft soapy texture, brown fabric, handmade – as LB285(1) 13/14th c - Miscellaneous Roman Wares (L33) LB282(1) Rim, Tilford D ware 4th c - LB282(2) Body sherd of flagon 2nd c - LB282(3) Jar base, light grey ware, Mucking, Essex 3/4th c - LB286(1) Jar base, light grey ware, Mucking, Essex 3/4th c - Unstratified finds LB01(26) Flanged cooking pot rim, south Hertfordshire ware 1150-1500 - TABLE 5. TILE Find Ref. Description Inside Walls of Building B (Q16) LB142 Quantity of pegged roofing tiles (one with dog pawprint) LB183 Complete pegged roofing tile, red fabric, (Grid P19), 28cm x 16.5cm x 1.3cm thickness, two 0.6cm countersunk peg holes. Medieval Inside Walls of Building D (L33/M26) LB284 Green glazed floor tile, plain, red fabric, 10.8cm square, 2.7cm thick (medieval) Hut H (outside grid area) LB183 Quantity of pegged roof tiles First Test Grid East of Building B (N4) LB02 Quantity of pegged roof tiles in chalk Unstratified items LB01 Fragment of Romano British tegula roofing tile, red fabric C.R. BAKER AND A.N. HERBERT 296 Fig. 5 Ceramic Finds. EXCAVATION OF A MEDIEVAL SETTLEMENT AT POND FIELD, LITTLEBROOK 297 Fig. 6 Ceramic Finds. C.R. BAKER AND A.N. HERBERT 298 Other Finds Details of other finds are set out in Table 6. The whetstone and bronze tweezers are shown in Plates III and IV. Worn whetstone recovered from Building D Plate III TABLE 6. NON-CERAMIC FINDS Find ref. No. Description Area next to Pit (H7) LB25 1 Square patch of lead for patching pots, 2.2cm square by 1.5mm thick LB25 1 Flat copper strip, 2.8cm x 13cm, with holes and slots, possibly strap from wooden bucket LB30 1 Bead pin head, bone, c 6mm diameter Inside Walls of Building B (Q16) LB141 1 Fragment of daub from wall, wattle markings (white) LB143 1 Small calcinated stone, heat fractured LB145 Carbon deposits Inside Walls of Building D (L33/M26) LB201 1 Whetstone of metamorphic rock (match break) LB284 1 Pair bronze tweezers, 8cm long, lined markings (medieval) LB288 Quantity of charcoal fragments Unstratified items LB01 1 Broad, iron horse shoe, medieval type LB01 80 Iron nails 3.8cm to 5cm long, 0.5cm diameter (including one of 10cm length) EXCAVATION OF A MEDIEVAL SETTLEMENT AT POND FIELD, LITTLEBROOK 299 Two views of bronze tweezers, with engraved edge, from Building D Plate IV Conclusion The medieval site at Littlebrook was originally located and investigated by Harold Mair in the 1940s, solely by fieldwalking.13 It gave the Dartford District Archaeological Group its first chance of a large scale excavation in 1973. The excavations revealed bases of nine round huts which Mair had recorded from the ploughed-up chalk on the surface of the field.14 Our Building D equates to the ‘communal kitchen’ which he suggested when noting ‘numerous pieces of medieval roof tiles’ on the surface of the field.15 Our excavation, however, failed to reveal many roof tiles, particularly in association with Building D, although the shallowness and the deep post-war ploughing could have removed all traces from the structure. Mair was influenced by the story of Hamo de Hythe ordering a wall to be built along the Thames in 1333. He therefore put forward the idea of the site being an encampment for the workmen but this would suggest temporary, perhaps seasonal, use which would be at odds with our excavated buildings.16 From the nature of the established buildings, the Group presumes that the site may have been an early farmstead, perhaps a predecessor of Littlebrook farmhouse which later existed further to the south on the edge of Temple Hill Estate. C.R. BAKER AND A.N. HERBERT 300 acknowledgements The authors would like to thank several members of the Dartford District Archaeological Group for their help in the production of this report: Graham Mitchell, Dr Mike Still and Sharon Mitchell. The authors would also like to thank the specialists who have contributed: the late Derrick Rixson assisted by Peter Rixson, both members of DDAG, for the bone report; and, for the pottery identifications, the late Christopher St John Breen (DDAG) with Dr Alan Vince and Ann Jenner who were both employed by the Department of Urban Archaeology at the time. endnotes 1 H. Mair, The XVth Mile Stage (1953). 2 Ibid., 26-29, 32-3. 3 F.C.J. Spurrell, ‘Dartford Antiquities’, Archaeologia Cantiana, xviii (1889), 304-18. 4 E. Hasted, The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent, II (1797), 389; Textus Roffensis, 118. 5 Textus Roffensis, 153; Registrum Roffense, 5. 6 Hasted, op. cit. (see note 4), 386; Registrum Roffense, 442. 7 Textus Roffensis, 124; Hasted, op. cit. (see note 4), 388; Deed of William de Bocailes in Registrum Roffense, 627-8. 8 Registrum Roffense, 63. 9 H. Wharton, Anglia Sacra I (1691), 372-374. 10 Hasted, op. cit. (see note 4), 389, quoting Court Rolls of Dartford Cum Sutton Manor. 11 Mair, op. cit. (see note 1), 60-3. 12 Mair, op. cit., 26-9. 13 Ibid. 14 Ibid., 26-7. 15 Ibid., 26. 16 Ibid.