Monument record TQ 95 SW 160 - Romano-British occupation, Tanyard Farm

Following earlier magnetometry survey, archaeological evaluation was carried out in 2018 by the Swale and Thames Archaeological Company in advance of proposed housing redevelopment. The evaluation found a late 2nd century field system and a structure with post holes and floors. This was subsequently replaced by a smaller enclosure in the late 3rd/4th century. The enclosure was c. 60 m north-south and at least 45m east-west. (1)

An excavation followed this evaluation at some time between 2020-2023; this excavation identified a trackway which was aligned NE-SW and was bordered by ditches dating to the Late Iron Age, suggesting that the feature may have had its origins in the Late Iron Age. A well was also revealed during the excavations; this feature measured 4m in diameter and 2.5m in depth. The well contained a large number of animal bones alongside a complete antler, suggesting that it could have been used as a dump site for food or butchery waste. Another possible Roman well was identified to the south of the site; this feature could be Saxon or Roman in date

A large pit cluster was located in an area to the north east of the site. The pits contained a large number of metal artefacts including nails and metal objects which had been broken. This area was interpreted (2) as part of the site used for metal working and recycling damaged metal objects.
A corn drier with an associated stoke pit was sited to the south west of the excavated area. The stoke pit and flue displayed evidence for burning, whilst the brick structure of the drier itself had collapsed.

To the west was an enclosure ditch in two sections, one aligned NW-SE, the other aligned SE-NW. The feature was parallel to the trackway, and cut through a series of large pits to the south. Excavation of the corner slot which joined the two sections of ditch revealed a deposit of cow skulls and hobnails.
Two perinate burials were recovered from pits excavated at the site. The authors of the report (2) tentatively date these to the Roman period.

A possible Roman structure was also identified to the south west. This consisted of a possible building foundation formed of a squared curvilinear gully 7.6m in width. The feature was truncated by a later Saxon building (TQ 95 SW 178) therefore its interpretation (2) is uncertain. (2)

<1> Swale and Thames Survey Company, 2018, Archaeological evaluation on land at Tanyard Farm, Lenham, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE52734.

<2> Thames Valley Archaeological Services, 2023, Land at Tanyard Farm, Lenham, Kent Archaeological Post-excavation Assessment (Unpublished document). SKE58589.