Woodman's Yard, Dartford. TQ 5427 7414. In 1977 the DDAG recieved permission from Dartford Borough Council to conduct investigations in an area of land formerly occupied by the premises of Woodman Brothers , scrap merchants. Attention first went to the waste land which lay to the north of of one of the Woodman's buildings, which at one time had been used for stabling. This area extended as far as the site of a timber framed building that was demolished in around 1960, known as `Home Orchard'. This was the `Manor House of Charles', built in the 14th Century and which later became the servants quarters when a much larger building was erected on the north side of the High Street in the 16th Century. Expectations of finding some evidence of `Home Orchard' were unfortunately dashed - only one rubbish pit of 16th/17th century date was uncovered. This could possibly linked with the house. Another rubbish pit contained the almost complete skeleton of a pig, presumably the victim of some disease. Some chalk pathways and a brass of Constantinus were also found (1). The rubbish pits have yielded a wealth of post medieval glazed pottery and given us a better dating sequence. The earliest feature recorded on the site was a Roman metalled trackway or minor road which was discovered at the southernmost part of the excavation (nearest the High Street) (2).

<1> Rediscovering Dartford, Dart Dist Arch Grp (1986) 28,50. (OS Card Reference). SKE49119.

<2> Dart Dist Arch Grp Newsletter 14 (1978) 1. (OS Card Reference). SKE39624.