A series of investigations were carried out from 2014 to 2017 at Howt Green Farm, Bobbing in advance of the construction of a new fruit store. Trial trenching in 2014 found a series of features that were believed to be of late bronze age / early neolithic date. A large area was subsequently excavated that confirmed the existing of archaeological features. These were primarily a field system (including ditches, gullies, pits and post holes) to the west of a large hollow way or trackway. This feature was suggested as leading to Iwade where contemporary feautres have been found. A pottery kiln, refuse pit and post holes were found to the east of the site. Finds from the site suggested the features were of early bronze age to late iron age date. Trenches excavated south of the features in 2017 found no further discoveries. Neither did a watching brief carried out during construction of a cold store further south in 2018.. (1-4)

The evaluation in 2014 identified two ditch termini, a well preseved kiln, and a ditch. The ditch measured 2.4m lin length, 0.48m in width and up to 0.35m in depth, and the ditch termini measured over 0.97-2.53m in length, 0.47-0.64m in width, and 0.24-0.37m in depth.
The kiln was subcircular and measured 0.74m in length, 0.67m in width, and up to 0.11m in depth. "Two small fragments of sub-ceramic material were found within this context and may represent the remains of kiln furniture. Partially covering this deposit was what appeared to be the partially collapsed ‘roof’ of the kiln composed of redeposited natural, a friable pale yellow brown silty clay up to 0.09m thick with rare chalk and carbon flecks. Neither context contained diagnostic artefacts, but this feature had the appearance of a ‘one shot’ kiln" (from the original report, 1).

<1> Swale and Thames Archaeological Survey Company, 2014, Archaeological Evaluation at Howt Green Farm, Sheppey Way, Bobbing, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE57976.

<2> Swale and Thames Archaeological Survey Company, 2015, An Archaeological Strip, Map and Sample Assessment Report at Howt Green Farm, Sheppey Way, Bobbing, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE57948.

<3> Swale and Thames Survey Company, 2017, Archaeological evaluation on land at Howt Green Farm, Sheppey Way, Bobbing, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE52465.

<4> Swale and Thames Archaeological Survey Company, 2018, Archaeological Watching Brief On Land At Howt Green Farm, Sheppey Way, Bobbing, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE56895.