A Late Iron Age - early Roman enclosure, a field system, dump/levelling deposits, and pit complexes were excavated at Willow Farm off Hooper's Lane, Broomfield in 2000. These features were located to the west of the site.

The enclosure comprised an area of 560 square metre bounded by two ditches to the north west and north east. Post-holes identified in close proximity to these features are suggested to have formed internal structures within the enclsoure boundaries, however, their connection is based on spatial evidence as they are undated.

Three pit complexes were thought to date to this phase of occupation, at least one of which was used for the disposal of burnt domestic waste (charcoal, burnt clay, and pottery). Two of the pit complexes were undated but were comparable in form to the rubbish pit complex, suggesting that they also originated from this phase of occupation.

Part of a field system was identified at the site through the presence of two ditches. One of these truncated a pit complex, suggesting that the field system was established later during this phase of occupation at the site. A sub-rectangular feature was situated between the ditches which was "tentatively interpreted as a sunken house structure" (from the original report, 1), with an area of 48 square metres. The lack of identifying features - such as associated post-holes, walls, or floor, makes this interpretation uncertain.

Finds associated with dump/levelling deposists at the site include tile, daub, and brick. Other finds associated with features/deposits at the site include shellfish fragments (whelk, mussel, oyster, cockles, peppery furrow), and horse bone.

Earlier features at the site date from the Late Bronze Age - Early Iron Age period (TR 16 NE 1804), and later features include Romano-British activity (TR 16 NE 1391), and medieval occupation at the site (TR 16 NE 1392). (1)

<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2001, Archaeological excavation at Willow Farm, off Hooper’s Lane, Broomfield, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE56287.