by A.C.Harrison, B.A., F.S.A
The Maidstone Area Archaeological Group has been excavating this site for the last three seasons and the investigation of the building, previously reported in Newsletter No. 3, has been completed. This proved to be an aisled barn measuring in its final phase 25 m. x 15 m. Attention was next directed to the bath-house and although this had been demolished down to the lower floor level of the hypocausts and the "topsoil" was eight inches of concrete, it was possible to recover its plan. In the first photograph, the frigidarium is in the foreground, the apsidal room is the tepidarium and the caldarium and furnace are furthest from the camera. It was tantalizing to note that the hard-core below the concrete was almost entirely Roman tile and opus signinum and to reflect how much must have been destroyed when the Gas Company constructed their coke-yard some sixty years ago!
At Easter, it is hoped to continue the investigation of part of the living quarters, previously partially excavated by Mr. Ocock in 1964 (Arch. Cant. Vol. 82 1967). The floor level of these three rooms, which originally had plastered walls, had been raised to permit the insertion of hypocausts - a smaller one with pilae to the south and a larger channelled hypocaust to the north. The second photograph shows the six channels which were lined with pilae-tiles and covered with tegulae.
Volunteers are always welcome and anyone interested in taking part should get in touch with the writer or with Mrs. Margaret Terry.
