TQ 65 NW 18 - Romano-British internments, pottery, bronze rings, tiles found 1908, Wrotham Heath

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Monument record TQ 65 NW 18 - Romano-British internments, pottery, bronze rings, tiles found 1908, Wrotham Heath

Summary

At the beginning of the 20th century items connected with Roman burials were discovered at Comp on glebeland belonging to Leybourne Church, close to the Malling to Ightham Road. They were found 5ft [1.52m] below ground during the clearance of rabbit burrows on the northern slopes of Wrotham golf course. Tiles were set edgeways in a line with one across the top. Nearby were human bones and 2 bronze finger rings. Also found were the remains of a cinerary urn, a goblet of Durobrivian ware and an urn vase. A portion of mill stone and the upper stone of a quern, which were also found, are not believed to be linked with the Roman burials. The present whereabouts of the items found is unknown.

Location

Grid reference	TQ 636 574 (point) FCE
Map sheet	TQ65NW
County	KENT
District	TONBRIDGE AND MALLING, KENT
Civil Parish	OFFHAM, TONBRIDGE AND MALLING, KENT
Civil Parish	PLATT, TONBRIDGE AND MALLING, KENT

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Type and Period (2)

Full Description

Wrotham Heath, (Golf Course):- Roman interments found five feet below the surface when destroying rabbits's burrows on the northern slope of the course. Objects found included the remains of a cinerary urn, a goblet of Durobrivian ware, an urn vase and two bronze finger-rings with five Roman roof tiles. The tiles were placed edgewise in a line with one tile across and decayed remains of human bones were found close by with the two rings among them. Nearby a portion of a mill stone and the upper stone of a quern were found but these had no connection with the burials. The site is at Comp, upon glebeland of Leybourne Vicarage and close to the Malling to Ightham road. [Only clues as to date of discovery is that it was 'reported, on March 30th', and is included in Researches... 1908-10] (1) Found at Camp (sic) c. 1908, 'a not uncommon form of Roman burial'. Included under Wrotham. (2) Note by Benj Harrison, 17 1 1909. "I went over to see the trench near Comp House where Roman and British pottery has been found. Pieces of various vessels were found in seven different places. The ground seems to have been trenched before, though not so deeply, and the vessles broken up". [Possibly applies to burial] (3) None of the finds from these burials are held at Maidstone Museum and no further information was gained there. Sited to Wrotham Park Golf Course, area centred TQ 636575, on evidence of Auth 1. (4) During excavation on the Golf Links (TQ 635574) at Wrotham Heath, workmen found several Roman urns, a quern, and some bronze rings and flanged tiles, all in a good state of preservation. (5) (The Comp House mentioned by Harrison in authority 3 may be Great CompHouse (TQ 65 NW 51) situated at TQ 63205677, south of Wrotham Heath Golf Club). (6)

<1> Arch Cant vol 29 1911 lxxxiii-lxxxiv (G Payne) (OS Card Reference). SKE36393.

<2> VCH Kent 3 1932 175 (OS Card Reference). SKE51114.

<3> Harrison of Ightham 1928 286 (E R Harrison) (OS Card Reference). SKE43717.

<4> F1 CFW 26.02.64 (OS Card Reference). SKE42764.

<5> The Antiquary 47 1911 166 (Notes) (OS Card Reference). SKE49946.

<6> F2 CJH 16 2 87 (OS Card Reference). SKE43295.

<7> Field report for monument TQ 65 NW 18 - February, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3353.

Sources/Archives (7)

<1> SKE36393 OS Card Reference: Arch Cant vol 29 1911 lxxxiii-lxxxiv (G Payne).
<2> SKE51114 OS Card Reference: VCH Kent 3 1932 175.
<3> SKE43717 OS Card Reference: Harrison of Ightham 1928 286 (E R Harrison).
<4> SKE42764 OS Card Reference: F1 CFW 26.02.64.
<5> SKE49946 OS Card Reference: The Antiquary 47 1911 166 (Notes).
<6> SKE43295 OS Card Reference: F2 CJH 16 2 87.
<7>XY SKE3353 Bibliographic reference: Field report for monument TQ 65 NW 18 - February, 1964. [Mapped feature: #12680 find, ]