Romano-British Building in Snodland

Romano-British Building in Snodland

By A. C. Harrison, B.A., F.S.A.

The existence of a Romano-British building at Church Field, Snodland, has been known since 1844 but only one part of what was clearly an extensive site has been excavated in 1964 and 1971 by our member Mr M. A. Ocock (Arch.Cant. Vol. 82 1967 p.192 foll.). Last year an additional area became available through the demolition of a building, latterly a canteen but previously a Chapel, the Baptistry of which is just visible in the centre of the photograph. At the invitation of the land-owners, The Lead Wool Company Limited, an excavation has been undertaken by the Maidstone Area Archaeological Group under the direction of the writer. Results have so far been encouraging and it is possible to trace the plan of a range of rooms parallel to those discovered previously, suggesting that two sides of a quadrangular structure have been located. At least two periods of building are involved and the evidence of pottery, etc. indicates occupation from about 150 A.D. to about 350 A.D. The existence of walls exposed in the bank of the adjacent River Medway and noted by C. Roach Smith in 1845 has been confirmed. Among the finds are a well preserved toilet-set and a silvered bronze seal-box of a "cog-wheel" shape which can be paralleled in brooches but not apparently in these articles. It is intended to continue work on the site during the summer of 1983.