KAS Newsletter, Issue 17, Autumn 1990
Recent Investigations into the Earthworlks at Kenardington Church
The remains of earthworks to the east of the parish church at Kenardington, on the edge of Romney Marsh near Appledore, have attracted the attention of nearly every historian of Kent since Hasted who wrote his 'History of Kent' - published 1778.
However, all references to this site seem to repeat the same theory that the scant traces represent a fort or camp, hastily thrown up by King Alfred as protection from the expected raids by the Danes in the 9th Century.
Hasted included a plan in his account but this is somewhat difficult to relate to the features that are visible today.
Several earlier writers seem to have associated a large embankment on the lower slope of the hillside with the features adjacent to the churchyard. This lower bank is most probably part of 'inning' or marsh reclamation work, maybe medieval in date.
This leaves the upper features which consist of a fairly substantial bank, running North/South across the slope of the hill for about 600 feet (180 meters), with a somewhat shorter length at the North/East side of the 'Church Field'. A resistivity survey was conducted across various sections of the main earthwork to try to locate any buried ditches.
Apart from a possible buried feature along the Southern boundary of the field, which is most probably a fairly recent farm ditch, no definite features were identified. A search of the ploughed fields surrounding the site (itself under pasture) revealed no pottery or other small finds of any great age, although a scatter of Mesolithic flints was found centered on N.G.R. TQ 978323, which may confirm the location here of a much earlier prehistoric shoreline.
The suggestion has been made that these earthworks might be the remains of the 'lost' Anglo-Saxon 'burgh' of 'Eorpeburnan'. A document known as the 'Burghal Hidage', drawn up between 911 and 919 A.D., lists fortified towns or 'burghs' in the South of England. 'Eorpeburnan' was located somewhere to the east of Hastings. However, even allowing for the great changes that have occurred to the geography of this part of Kent over the last 1,000 (plus) years, this site does not really seem to fit into the pattern of a strategic site chosen to protect the surrounding country in time of war, in Anglo- Saxon times.
It was suggested that Appledore is a more likely location to look for an Anglo-Saxon fortification, sited as it presumably was, near to the River Limen or Rother and with access to the sea.
N.R. Aldridge
Mason's Arms, Spital Street, Dartford
The Dartford District Archaeological Group have been carrying out excavations in selected areas to the rear of the former Mason's Arms Public House in Spital Street, Dartford. These were carried out between November 1989 and March 1990 prior to the redevelopment of the site.
The history of the site
The Mason's Arms has existed as a Public House in Spital Street since c.1860, prior to that it may have traded under the sign of the Magpie. The name of Mason's Arms is derived from the fact that a stonemason's yard stood next door. The original building was timber framed and weather-boarded, c.1905. This building was demolished and replaced by a brick building of which the frontage is being preserved in the new office development.
Earlier discoveries.
Although no excavations have taken place on the site of the Mason's Arms before, there have been discoveries in the area. A recent excavation by the Group on the North side of Spital Street revealed a large quantity of fragments of pottery dating to the Roman period. In 1907 and again in 1919 other discoveries of Roman pottery were found in the area now covered by Beadles (Dartford) Ltd. These discoveries were made during building work, and the Group would be interested to hear of any information concerning these discoveries particularly perhaps from builders employed on this work. All these finds come from the area close to the assumed line of the Roman road.
The Group's Excavation
This comprised of two grids in areas which would be destroyed in the site's subsequent redevelopment. Part of a 19th Century gravestone, probably a waste piece from the adjacent stone mason's yard was found. This piece of stone was used to form the base of a 19th Century drain. Several rubbish pits were located and excavated which contained a variety of objects ranging from flower pots to part of 18th/19th Century wine glasses. There was also evidence of an 18th Century clay pipe workshop in the form of small fragments of a kiln. At the bottom of a deep pit was found fragments of a medieval glazed jug. This pit was dug through a Roman layer of domestic rubbish. This contained fragments of roofing tile and various types of Roman pottery. Amongst this material lay an almost complete brooch and part of another. It was made of bronze with an iron pin and resembles a modern safety pin. These are now being conserved at the Kent Museum Service, West Malling. The most surprising and totally unexpected find was the bones of a human fetus laying amongst the domestic rubbish!
The finds from our excavation are currently being processed at the Group's Research centre in Dartford. Our thanks are due to Grand Metropolitan Estates Ltd. for allowing excavations to take place as well as assisting the group financially with this work.
Chris Baker.
Dartford Borough Museum
The Location of Durolevum
After cataloguing the numerous chance Roman finds in and around Faversham, as well as the results of the excavations between 1913 and 1932 in the half-mile (800m) or so west of Ospringe (which included a cemetery with 172 cremations and 74 inhumations), the Victoria County History came to the conclusion that the area was the site of Durolevum, although it acknowledged that the evidence of the two main geographical sources was contradictory.1
However, the standard work on Roman place-names locates Durolevum "somewhere between Sittingbourne and Faversham, and since the missing two miles are most likely to have been lost on the outskirts of Canterbury, a site nearer to Sittingbourne, perhaps in the area of Snipeshill and Bapchild, is most probable".2
This article discusses the problem in the light of more recent research on 'town-zones'. In brief, Rodwell's concept of a 'town-zone'.3 has been refined by an analysis of the Antonine Itinerary coupled in particular with the evidence of town-charters and the location of town cemeteries, which indicate that 'large towns' (perhaps most easily defined here as those with charters) had a specific related area around their walls - or perhaps other perimeters of precisely one Roman mile4 (or a variable distance, pace Rodwell), while 'little towns' (vici) did not have such a zone. With regard to 'large towns', distances were measured from the edge of their town-zones.5 For example, according to Itinera VI and IX of the Antonine Itinerary the distance between Londinium and Verulamium was xxi R.miles, whereas the actual road-distance between the walls of the two towns is 23.1 R.miles. Additionally, Iter II lists Stonincis as being xii R.miles from Londinium and viiii Roman miles from Verulamium, thus indicating that the small settlement was a 'little town' lacking a town-zone, although allowing that distances may be measured from its perimeter.6
The place name Durolevum which has been interpreted as meaning the 'fort on the smooth-flowing river',7 is known only from the Ravenna Cosmography, the Antonine Itinerary and the Peutinger Table.8
The Ravenna Cosmography.
This document gives the place-name as 'Duralavi' in, by error a list of rivers; its position in the list might suit North Kent (108/37).
The Antonine Itinerary
The Itinerary is a collection of some 225 road routes (itineraries) across the Roman Empire and lists both the names of the stopping places and the distances between them. In the British section there are 15 itineraries, which by custom are given Roman numerals.
In his study of the Itinerary Rivet notes that not only are some of the place-names in the Itinerary corrupt, but also are some of the distances.9 He proposed 20 obvious and necessary amendments to the distances in the text, of which 14 relate to confusion between letters (10 cases concern v and x, and 4 concern ii and v). In addition, there are probably further amendments which should be made where i has been erroneously added or omitted.10
Iter III and IV record the distance between Rochester and Canterbury as xxv Roman miles as against an actual measurement of 26.7 Roman miles between the two town-walls. This discrepancy between the two measurements would indicate that both Rochester and Canterbury had a one mile town-zone.
On the other hand, Iter II places Durolevum xiii Roman miles east of Rochester and xii Roman miles west of Canterbury. These distances, apart from confirming the xxv distance in Iter III and IV, indicate that Durolevum lacked a town-zone.
When the distances of xiii Roman miles east from Rochester's town walls and xii Roman miles west from those of Canterbury are marked on a map, they straddle the small village of Green Street, which therefore should equate with the site of Durolevum. Unfortunately, there is a dearth of Roman material known from this area which could support the hypothesis of a roadside settlement of some substance, nor is there a river of some size which is implied in the place-name. One might also note that the great majority of Roman settlements are to be found on the banks of a river or stream.
The Peutinger Table Not only is the Peutinger table subject to the same sort of errors regarding reliability of its mileages as is the Antonine Itinerary, but also its western end was so badly damaged at some time in the past that only 16 place-names in eastern Britain survive; some of these have even been truncated by the damage.
The table places Durolevum midway between Rochester and Canterbury at a distance of vii Roman miles from each town. Rivet and Smith meet the inconsistent comparison between these figures and those of Iter II by suggesting that the difference is "presumably due to the common confusion of x with v and both mileages should be read as xii (or perhaps in one case as xiii)."11
Discussion Between Rochester and Canterbury the only evidence for a Roman settlement of substance, which presumably Durolevum was for it to be included in the Iter., occurs in the Ospringe/Faversham area. Here, Faversham Creek, which is a navigable tidal channel today, links the town by way of the East Swale with the Thames; the 'smooth' part of the place-name, Durolevum, might be applicable to the creek.
If the various cemeteries along Watling Street can be held to indicate the western boundary (A on map) of the roadside part of the settlement, then the eastern boundary of a loosely-knit settlement might, arguably, lie just to the east of Preston (B on map). This straggling sort of settlement along a road is known from elsewhere, for example, Kenchester and Water Newton.12 More locally there is of course the site of Springhead (Vagniacis) which also lies on the route to Londinium and which too had access to the Thames; Vagniacis stretches at least some 400m along Watling Street.13
These suggested parameters, which would also 'bracket' the extent of Faversham in the late Victorian period, may be used as start-points for measuring the distances to Rochester and Canterbury. The potential for the Faversham/Ospringe area to be identified with the site of Durolevum would allow for different amendments to be made to the Antonine Itinerary and Peutinger than those put forward by Rivet and Smith.
The table below shows in three groups the distances listed in the Itinerary and Peutinger; some actual measurements between town-walls and/or the parameters for Durolevum/Ospringe, and some suggested amendments to the received measurements. In the third group the acknowledged frequent confusion between x and v, and v and ii, as well as the occasional addition or omission of a i may be sited in support (see above).
Itinerary III Itinerary IV Peutinger Table Actual distances from town-walls Amended distances: Itinerary II Peutinger Table Durobrivae (Rochester) xxiv xxv Durolevum (Canterbury) vii vii It might be argued that the amended distances either side of Durolevum
It might be argued that the amended distances either side of Durolevum/Ospringe are a Roman mile short of that quoted in ltinera lII and IV, but these only cover the routes between Channel ports and London and therefore may be of early date, that is before Durolevum was developed; on the other hand, because Iter II mentions Hadrian's Wall, it must be of 2nd century date - or later.To sum up, the concept of a one-mile town-zone together with a corrected reassessment of the distances between Durovelum and it neighbouring towns could locate that placename in the Ospringe/Faversham area, which has such a high density of Roman material.
References
1. The Victoria History of the County of Kent, Vol. 3 (1932) 93-35.
2. A. L. E. Rivet and C. Smith, The Place-Names of Roman Britain (1981) 162.
3. W. Rodwell, Milestones, Civic Territory and the Antonine Itinery' Britannia VI (1975) 76-145.
4. One Roman mile measures 1,480 metres, 1618 yards or 0919 Imperial mile.
5. N. Fuentes, 'Land Division in Roman London', unpublished dissertation. Institute of Archaeology, University of London, (1985) 34-36, publication of the one-mile town-zone concept is expected in 1991.
6. For a similiar excersize in Essex, see N. Fientes, 'Durolitum Found?' Essex j. Vol. 21 (1986) 18-21 and 'The Trinovantes and the Antonine Itinery' Essex j. Vol. 23 (1988) 21-23.
7. Rivet and Smith, op. cit. 351
8. The British sections of these documents are contained in Rivet and Smith.
9. Ibid 39.
10. Ibid 62.
11 Ibid 161.
12. S. E. Cleary, Extra Mural Areas of Romano-British Towns, B. A. R. 169 (1987) 100-101, 142-49.
13. W. S. Penn 'Springhead Map of Discoveries' Arch. Cant. LXXX (1965) 107ff, as amended by Britannia IX (1978) 472.
Nicholas Fuentes
Letters
Robert Pocock
In 1883 George Matthews Arnold, a founder member of the K.A.S. and local Secretary for Gravesend for over 50 years, published a book on 'Robert Pocock, Gravesend Historian, Naturalist, Antiquarian, Botanist and Printer', which was based in part on extracts from Pocock's journals or diaries for 1811, 1812, 1822 and 1823 together with various other manuscripts and collections of his. Although most of the manuscripts and collections apparently belonged to G. M. Arnold and are now part of the Arnold Collection at Gravesend Library, the original journals or diaries are missing and were never part of the collection acquired by the Library. The late Mr. E. N. Moore, who was Librarian at Gravesend, made some enquiries as to their whereabouts but without success. Mr. R. F. Jessup once told me that many years ago he saw these diaries in the library of Augustus Arnold at Cobham Bury. Augustus Arnold was one of G. M. Arnold's brothers. When he died, his collections went to Rochester Museum but enquiry there some years ago was without result.
I am wondering if any of your readers know the whereabouts of these original diaries or if they are still in existence? Robert Hiscock.
I am an historian currently in the process of gathering material for a book concerning the evacuation of children from Britain to North America during World War II. I am attempting to locate anyone who has any personal reminiscences about evacuees and/or evacuation. I would appreciate hearing from former evacuees (evacuated either privately or by government agencies), parents, hosts, teachers or friends of evacuees, evacuee agency officials, possessors of letters or manuscript material regarding the subject or anyone else who has recollections of the evacuees and/or the evacuation.
Patricia Y. Lin.
Crossness Beam Engines and House
After working with Thames Water for nearly five years, putting in over 8,000 man hours of work and spending over £100,000, the Crossness Engines Trust has been barred from the site by the newly privatised Thames Water pie.
Progress of the restoration work over the past year has been considerable with the painting of one of the screens of the octagon in as near as possible to the original Victorian colours being completed, and work started on the second screen. The roof undercroft had been repaired and painted and the high level iron work (the roof trusses and original lifting beams) had been shot blasted and painted. Scaffolding had been erected in preparation for cleaning the interior of the walls. On the engines themselves, work had continued on 'Victoria' with the Watt parallel motion linkages being dismantled and stored, the heads of the cylinders opened to reveal bores in remarkably good condition (but now exposed to the atmosphere of the engine house). Water had been pumped out from the two 9ft. diameter pumps which had been cleaned and the cowls removed. Attempts to move the engine had been proved unsuccessful and the belief was that sand and fly-ash that filled the pump basement was the cause so ways of getting below the pump plunger were being investigated. The area of the adjacent pumps of 'Prince Consort' was being cleared of muck and rubble and the water pumped out.
'Victoria's' barring engine had been stripped, painted, re-assembled and was nearly at the stage where it could be steamed.
Then, in October 1989, the Trust were locked out of the building by Thames Water.
Since then, members of the Trust have not been allowed back into the building to take preventative measures to arrest deterioration nor to carry out any further restoration. Thames Water have put forward a series of reasons for their actions but have not met the Trust nor explained the rationale behind what they have done.
A special committee has been set up by the Trust to try to resolve this impasse and it is asking all who feel strongly about this matter to write to: Mr. Roy Watts, asking him to reconsider the decision so that preservation work can continue.
John Ridley, Crossness Engines Trust.
Dr. A. P. Detsicas has sent the following note:
A Dutch correspondent has enquired about what he calls 'bird-pots' i.e. pots used as nesting holes for starlings and sparrows, and, if any K.A.S. member has any information on such pots occurring in 15th - 16th century paintings, drawings, engravings or any other medium, he would be grateful to know; his address is Mr. J. T. H. C. Schepman.
Events, Outings, Lectures
The K.A.S. Fieldwork Committee has organized on behalf of the Society a one-day Conference on Archaeological Work in Kent in the Eighties at the Spa Hotel, Tunbridge Wells, on Saturday, 17th November 1990.
It is anticipated to have speakers for four shorter papers in the morning session and two longer ones in the afternoon. The price of admission is likely to be either £2.50 or £3. Apply to Dr. A. P. Detsicas, who will forward details and a program in due course.
One-day meeting on 'Fieldwalking.' Venue, etc. to be arranged. Details in the next Newsletter.
CONFERENCE OF BUILDING RECORDERS.
The twenty-seventh Conference of Building Recorders will be held on Saturday, 20th October 1990, in the Village Hall at Charing (The Barn), commencing at 2.15 pm. The speakers will be as follows: Mrs. Maureen Lovering on The Brick Church at East Guldeford.
Arthur Percival on Dutch Influences on Kentish Architecture. Mrs.
Gwen Jones on Oasis and the Hop Industry Research Survey.
Michael Peters on The Kent Historic Buildings Index. The proceedings will be concluded with Tea. Admission is free, without a ticket, but there will be a collection.
CHRISTMAS BUFFET LUNCH. Saturday, 1st December 1990, St. George's Hall, Chatham Dockyard. See enclosed booking form.
Advance Notice of a meeting at Canterbury on Saturday 9th March 1991, on STONEWORK. (Programme and details in the January Newsletter).
ROMNEY MARSH RESEARCH TRUST is holding a Study Day on Saturday 29th Sept. 1990, on Three Romney Marsh Churches, Ivychurch, Newchurch, and Burmarsh. With Tim Tatton-Brown and Roland Harris. Tickets £10, inclusive of lunch and tea, from Mrs. Sue Carrel. and on - FRIDAY 23rd Nov. 1990, an illustrated lecture on Tile Archaeology of Romney Marsh by Mark Gardiner of the Field Archaeology Unit, Institute of Archaeology, London. Tickets not required, 7.30 pm. Brenzett Village Hall.
VISIT OF THE SUSSEX ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY TO EAST KENT on Saturday 6th October 1990. K.A.S. members are welcome to join the visit. Tickets will be issued at Barbican House, High St. Lewes, Sussex. BN7 1 YE. Please apply to Mrs. Janet France, SX.A.S. Membership Secretary, for details. The visit will start at Barfreston Church and will include Patrixbourne Church, Broome Park (where there will be a Buffet Lunch) and Fordwich. There will be tea at Broad Oak Village Hall.
SATURDAY, 3rd November 1990. Joint Lecture with the Canterbury Archaeological Society at the Post-Graduate Medical Centre, Canterbury at 6 pm. Kenneth Gravett will talk on The Architectural Implications of Shopping. This talk will be repeated at a joint meeting with the Gravesend Historical Society on the evening of Monday, January 14th. (Details in the January Newsletter).
K.A.S. MEDWAY & GILLINGHAM BRANCH has arranged meetings which are open to anyone who has an interest in the subjects. Friends will be welcome. Meetings are held in the Rochester Guildhall Museum, High St. Rochester, commencing at 7.30 pm, but coffee and biscuits are served from 7 pm. Tuesday 23rd Oct. 1990. Recent Excavations in the Medway Valley including Snodland Roman Villa. by Mr. A. J.
Daniels.
ORPINGTON & DISTRICT ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, Lectures Wednesday 3rd October 1990. The Antiquities of Jordan by Susann Palmer (former Curator, Bromley Museum).
Wednesday 7th November, Recent Excavations in Canterbury, by Paul Bennett, (Canterbury Archaeological Trust). Telephone Fiona Blake for details on Orpington 25834.
Recent Publications
D. A. H. Cleggett and the late L. R. A. Grove were assistant editors of the Annual Report of the Friends of Rochester Cathedral. The 1990 report has been published. Papers include Professor Michael J. Swanton, Exeter University on The Decoration of Ernulf's Nave. Dr. Jane Geddes, Aberdeen University, on Some Doors in Rochester Cathedral and Conservation of the East Range of the Cloister - The Romanesque Chapter House. An interim report by Nicholas Duman.
Copies are available at £1.25, including postage, from The Friends' Office, Garth House, Minor Canon Row, The Precinct, Rochester, Kent, ME1 1SX.
THE BEDGEBURY PANELS This interesting little booklet by Gordon W. Batchelor is an account of the Marquetry work produced by the Bedgebury Estate Workshop 1865-1881. Proceeds to the Panel Fund and Kilndown Church. Can be obtained price £1.50, plus 20p postage from the author - 15 pages. Well illustrated.
LAMAS Series of Occasional Papers is available to K.A.S. members at the price ruling for LAMAS members and a list of what is available (+ prices) is currently being prepared; until this list is finalized, K.A.S. members should enquire of Miss C. Jones, c/o The Roman Dept. Museum of London, London Wall, London, EC2Y SHN. Tel. 071 600 3699.
KINGSTON'S PAST REDISCOVERED. by Joan Wakeford. Published by Phillimore for KUTAS & SLHC. Paperback, AS. 144 pages, 42 illustrations, £6.95.
Bradbourne House, East Malling, Kent
A glorious evening, 17th March 1990. Early Spring, Kent at its best with daffodils and primroses, greeted into a very interesting house with sherry, superb portraits of its owners, the litigious Twisden family, an excellent buffet meal and wine plus a delightful selection of music with Kentish associations.
This was the setting for one of the K.A.S. evenings and it was an outstanding success. Not only because of the large number of members (110) attending, including Lord and Lady Cornwallis, but also because of the organization and work behind the scenes by our Library committee and its Chairman, Peter Draper, whose inspiration it all was.
Michael Ocock's talk on the house was very informative and his research will be valued by all who appreciate English architecture, particularly as the future of the site has threats of housing development hanging over it.
Details were provided by David Cleggett of the recently reattributed and restored Twisden family portraits and one could examine and compare the fascinating family likenesses.
Particularly noteworthy is that of the formidable Judge Twisden whose black cap can now be clearly seen. Also, not one portrait of that member of the last generation who became a porter at Ashtead Station.
After a fine buffet, we were entertained in the Great Hall by Bryan Gipps and a group of his friends presenting music of Kent from the earliest times to the present day. Mr. Gipps' selection and accompaniment together with his detailed researches made up an interesting and unusual concert.
The earliest piece was the majestic Crux Fideles which was possibly sung by Augustine and his fellow priests on their arrival in Kent in the 6th Century. Works by Tallis and Richard Dering together with those of George Merson, who was organist at Canterbury Cathedral, made an interesting renaissance section.
Anne Boleyn's lament, a work of haunting beauty, was movingly sung by Donna Carding. Whether this was actually written by the tragic queen or not, it remains a lovely piece of music.
Our century was remembered by the Canterbury composer Alan Ridout and the 'Kentish Hop-pickers' song and so back to Twentieth-century reality. A really first-class evening.
Ray Rolinson, An Antipodean Member.
Brattles Farm Museum & Evening Barbecue
On April 28th, our Membership Secretary, Margaret Lawrence, organised a most successful evening barbecue for the Society, at Brattles Farm, Staplehurst. On a fine Spring evening, we were directed to Staplehurst along Wealden lanes, before moving on to the farm for home-brewed cider and an opportunity to examine the Brattles Farm Museum of agricultural bygones. The evening ended with an alfresco meal expertly produced by the East Peckham Scout group.
Joy Saynor
The Hon. Editor of the Newsletter welcomes all letters, articles and communications and would particularly like to receive more from members and others, especially such as requests for research information, finds, books and related topics. Illustrations, if relevant, are always helpful and can assist readers in identifying objects, understanding points and following arguments.
The Editor, however wishes to draw the readers' attention to the fact that neither the Council of the K.A.S nor the Editoa answerable for the opinions which contributors may expect in the course of their signed articles. Each author is alone' responsible for the contents and substance of their letters, items or papers. Material for the next Newsletter should be sent by 1st November 1990 to Hon. Editor, Nesta Caiger.
Members can obtain 'Tote' bags, Tea Cloths, Ties, (Navy blue, Maroon, Green or Grey; please state colour required) by post from Mrs. J. Saynor. Bags £6. Tea Cloths £3. Ties £3.50. (includes p. & p.).
Miss Sara Bishop has kindly designed a stitch-chart of K.A.S. badge, also obtainable from Mrs. Saynor price 75p.
Fieldwork grants
Are you planning an excavation or fieldwork within the county of Kent during 1991? Grants are available from the K.A.S. to assist with work carried out byAffiliated Societies or individual members. Applications on appropriate form (obtainable from the Hon. General Secretary by 1st. October 1990).
Published by the Kent Archaeological Society, The Museum, St. Faith's Street, Maidstone, Kent. ME14 lLH.
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