Fairfield, Dartford. TQ 541 735. (1) Permission was freely given by the Council for a series of trial holes to be dug on this site on which the new Dartford Swimming Baths is being constructed. We started on 11th November 1973. The initial dig gave evidence of the ground being used for the town fair during the nineteenth century and of occupation by Medieval peoples, but no further material of archaeological interest was uncovered when the site was under surveillance during construction/excavation work by the contracters. The geological evidence of a marshy field cut by earlier streams was valuable information for future excavations on the Dartford river plane. (2-3)

Desk based assessment of area, suggests 'occupation' could be rubbish spreads. Fields become 'Fairfield' on 1st edition map (4).

<1> Dart Dist Arch Grp (1986) 50., 1986, Rediscovering Dartford, (Article in serial). SKE49121.

<2> Dart Dist Arch Grp Newsletter 2 (1974), 2. (OS Card Reference). SKE39625.

<3> Dart Dist Arch Grp Newsletter 5 (1975), 2. (OS Card Reference). SKE39629.

<4> West Sussex Archaeology, 2014, Archaeological Desk-based assessment of Fairfield Pool and Leisure Centre, Lowfield Street, Dartford, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE29578.