Roman industrial features were excavated at Willow Farm, Broomfield during an evaluation in 1999. Roman activity was located to the west of the site and comprised a probable collapsed kiln, pits, and ditches. The kiln-like feature had a recorded width of 3.34m and a depth of 0.58m. The fill of the feature contained a large quantity of charcoal and burnt clay and daub. One the ditches was filled with industrial/domestic waste and may have represented boundaries for Roman activity at the site. Pits at the site had recorded dimensions of 0.85-3m in length, 0.45m in width, and 0.4-0.46m in depth. Ditches at the site had recorded dimensions of 1.05m in length, 0.3-1.25m in width, and 0.08-0.48m in depth.

Finds associated with the fills of features at the site included pottery, daub, charcoal, burnt bone, and burnt flint, alongside several fragments of tile.

A number of undated features including ditches, pits, and post-holes were also identified at the site, and earlier recorded activity was characterised by Late Bronze Age - Early Iron Age settlement features (TR 16 NE 1804) and later activity was represented by medieval field boundaries (TR 16 NE 1392). (1)

A later excavation in 2000 identified further evidence for Roman archaeology at the site including several enclosures, areas of refuse disposal, boundary ditches, pits, post-holes, occupation surfaces and fencing. A series of 'workshops' were also constructed at the site, comprising metalled floor surfaces with processing pits, and elements of an open-fronted building.

Pottery identified during the excavation included jars, beakers, flasks, bowls, and dishes. Environmental finds associated with features and deposits at the site include shellfish (whelk, mussel, oyster, cockle, peppery furrow, and barnacles). Cattle, horse, and indeterminate bone fragments were also recovered from the site. Other finds associated with features at the site include a range of metal artefacts including nails and ploughing implements, and metal residue from ironworkings. 14 fragments of millstone grit quernstone were also recovered from the site. The fragments had a combined weight of 6.7kg, and were retrieved from seven separate contexts including the entrance to the northern enclosure, the backfills of the clay lined tank and the sunken metalled floor, and the southern feeder ditch.The assemblage is unusual in terms of the use of a single stone type as a quernstone at this site. Assemblages from other Roman sites in east Kent have included three main stone types (basalt lava, lower greensand, and millstone grit). (2)

<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 1999, Archaeological evaluation of Land at Willow Farm, off Hoopers Lane, Broomfield, Herne Bay, Kent. (Unpublished document). SKE54759.

<2> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2001, Archaeological excavation at Willow Farm, off Hooper’s Lane, Broomfield, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE56287.