TQ 671498. Mound sugested to be the 'Stontynburgha' mentioned in Domesday, and the origin of the name Borough's Oak Farm and Stockenbury field names in the vicinity. The site, which is cut through by Seven Mile Lane, is bounded by a stream on one side, and by a ditch and linear earthwork elsewhere. (1-2) TQ 671497. The prominent mound situated on Burr's Oak may be the remains of the royal manor of Stontynburgha. It is liberally strewn with iron stone slag, and the south west point at TQ 498670 has an area of soil in complete contrast to the rest of the mound when ploughed. Banks at TQ 502673 appear to be man made. The site lies about a mile from the river crossing at Brandbridges and was on the edge of a stretch of royal forest, known as Snade. No archaeological remains have been found on the site. The place name evidence from thesurrounding area provide further evidence that the mound may be the site of 'Stontynburgha'. The site is already cut through by Seven Mile Lane and will again be disturbed by the Hale Street by-pass planned for the future. (3)

Geophysical survey carried out in 2003 found a number of linear and area anomalies. Most were interpreted as geological but there was a possible pit, a possible earthwork and field drains.(4)

A field evaluation was carried out at the site in 2004. 6 trenches totalling 150 m were excavated. All the geophysical anomalies were found to be natural but a number a archaeological features were found.

Trench 1: this was targeted at Group A of the geophysical anomalies. The only archaeological material was two small pieces of post medieval tile from the topsoil.

Trench 2: this was targeted at a curvilinear anomaly iin group B of the geophysical survey features. No archaeological material was found.

Trench 3: this was aimed at group C of the geophysical anomalies. No archaeological material was found.

Trench 4: this was aimed at a large patch of area anomalies at the foot of the hillock in the south of the site. A ditch was found 0.8 m wide and 0.3 m deep. One sherd of possible mid Saxon pottery was recovered from the fill.

Trench 5. This trench was located on the western edge of the hillock. Two land drains and a ditch were discovered. The ditch ran east-west and measured 0.55 m wide by 0.15 m deep. No dating evidence was recovered.

Trench 6: this was the most extensive trench located on the higher part of the hillock. Three archaeological features were identified. The most significant was an east-west aligned ditch, 0.84 m wide and 0.28 m deep. This was unusually regular in section with a flat base and vertical sides. No dating evidence was recovered. Two discrete oval features were also found. The first was 0.5 m diameter and 0.08 m deep. The second was 0.7 m by 0.6 m deep. Six sherds were recovered from the latter, possibly Saxon or Norman in date. (5)

Description from record TQ 64 NE 49:
A magnetometry survey carried out at Brookfield Garden Centre in 2003 found a number of area and linear anomalies. The areas were generally suggested as being geological features and the linears were suggested as drainage ditches. Two possible ditches, a possible pit and a possible earthwork were also found.

Four groups of anomalies were found. Most of the area features were believed to be natural in origin. A possible pit was found in Group A. One curvilinear feature was found in Group B and a small number of cut features interpreted as field drains were also found. (6)

These features were later analysed through an archaeological evaluation (see above) which determined that they were not archaeological in origin.

<1> Letter (M Lawrence 4 9 72) (OS Card Reference). SKE46055.

<2> Letter (M Lawrence 3 11 75) (OS Card Reference). SKE46054.

<3> Arch Cant 98 1982 253-255 fig 1 (M Lawrence) (OS Card Reference). SKE36320.

<4> Stratascan, 2003, A report for Archaeology South-East on a Geophysical Survey carried out at Brookside Garden Centre, East Peckham, Kent, 2003 (Unpublished document). SKE13641.

<5> Archaeology South-East, 2004, An Archaeological Evaluation at the Brookside Garden Centre, East Peckham, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE13642.

<6> Stratascan, 2003, A report for Archaeology South-East on a Geophysical Survey carried out at Brookside Garden Centre, East Peckham, Kent, 2003 (Unpublished document). SKE13641.