Aerial Archaeology & Romney Marsh

by Neil Aldridge

Members may be interested to learn of another source of aerial photographs, covering a specific part of the county.

Whilst engaged in some fieldwork on the borders of Romney Marsh during 1983, it became clear that an aerial view of the area where we were working might prove useful in understanding the features visible from ground level. At the suggestion of a colleague, I contacted the Potato Marketing Board at Maidstone, who apparently carry out an aerial survey of the Marsh every few years during the summer in connection with E.E.C. regulations regarding the amount of potatoes grown in this country.

The staff at the Board's offices proved to be extremely helpful and supplied us with twenty-five black and white photographs taken during June and July in 1979 and 1981 at a height of around 1,000 feet.

We have since purchased copies of four of these showing the area we are interested in.

The Board holds extensive coverage of areas of Romney Marsh, Thanet, and other parts of East Kent, mainly dating from 1978 to 1984. Inquiries should be addressed to: The Area Supervisor, The Potato Marketing Board, 17-18 Granada House, Gabriels Hill, Maidstone, enclosing if possible a tracing of the area required giving N.G.R. points. - Ed.