Two medium sized trial holes of 1.5m plus depth have now located the Roman and Iron Age levels together with other exciting features at present being revealed, and we can already state that the course of the Darent to the south of the bridge was very different in Roman times to the present two channels serving the two mills (1).

Bridge House Site - Work on this site is now rapidly drawing to its conclusion and will shortly be backfilled. The finds have been many, varied, and deep and the dig could not have been successfully concluded had it not been for the extremely low water table which has pertained this year. The trial holes which were between 1.5 and 2m deep disclosed that the River Darent in Roman days flowed under what is now the lawn of Bridge House. The feature which stands out in the excavation is the stout revetment wall constructed of flint on a chalk block foundation, built in medieval days to channel the river into a definite path and possibly to divert the waters away from the foundations of the town bridge (2).

Work has recently been carried out on the line of the new river channel at present being constructed in the lawn of Bridge House. Excavation has produced some Medieval and Roman material and the remains of three wooden stakes, one of which has been successfully removed and is at present awaiting examination. The site failed to produce any foundations or similar structures, that, on the evidence of our earlier dig, were thought to have been there, although we did find part of a metalled surface constructed of large flints - this feature has been recorded (3).

Bridge House, phase II. TQ 5445 7405. Permission was granted to the Group in the light of redevelopment to carry out an excavation on the lawn of Bridge House immediately opposite Holy Trinity Church. Two initial grids were opened which were later merged into one excavation. A variety of sherds of pottery served to indicate that Medieval and then Roman levels were being recorded. Just before the transition from Medieval times, an at first mysterious assembly of large mortared flints was uncovered widening out at one point to a rectangular base. This was identified to be the revetment wall of one of the earliest bridges. Below this level the gravel clearly revealed the successive fording points which had preceded the bridge. At least two metalled trackways approaching the ford in Roman times were identified. Finds would seem to indicate that the river was used for the disposal of refuse. A considerable amount of Roman building material was also located including brick and tile. Metallic finds included four coins, one of Constantine I and another of Julian (4th Century AD) and a lead weight from a balance (4).

<1> Dart and Dist Arch Grp Newsletter 3(1974) 2 (OS Card Reference). SKE39608.

<2> Dart Dist Arch Grp Newsletter 4(1974) (OS Card Reference). SKE39628.

<3> Dart Dist Arch Grp Newletter 23(1980) 3 (OS Card Reference). SKE39620.

<4> Rediscovering Dartford, Dart Dist Arch Grp (1986) 4,50. (OS Card Reference). SKE49120.