[TQ 7054 7384] (1) The late Mr. Teanby excavated a tile tomb and much Roman pottery in 1861, near the line of the North Kent Railway at Higham and by the bank of the canal. Traces of fire were visible at three points on the edge of the cutting. Teanby's sketch shows an oval structure 5 ft. in diameter and 3' 8" high. Pottery appears to have been manufactured and baked on the spot. [see AO/58/57/2] (1-2) A master ganger of the railway who assisted when this was being dug out says it was a kiln and that it was found full of small pieces of pottery; no bones were found. (3) A curious structure described as a tile tomb but more likely to be a pottery kiln, discovered at Higham, probably near Hoo Junction. (4) The evidence for siting by Mr. Fisher (now deceased) [Authority 1] is not known. The loction should be treated as approximate only.(a) (5) Enquiries at the Uralite works revealed no further information on this or possibly subsequent finds. (6) The siting given by Authy.1 must be considered as very suspect. Although it is obviously based on the description given by Authority 2 the symbol is at the side of the Hundred of the Hoo branch of the railway and not near the North Kent Railway as stated by Authy.2. The canal converges with the North Kent Railway at two places in this vicinity - 3/4 of a mile and 1/2 mile S.E. of the position given by Authority 1. In the absence of evidence to resolve these discrepancies the only certain conclusion that can be drawn is that the kiln was found in the vicinity of Hoo Junction, probably near to the other Roman kilns. (See TQ 67 S.E. 28 & 29) (7) additional bibliography (8-11) Photographs (12-13)

<1> Museum (Arch) 6" Maidstone Museum (CE Fisher undated) (OS Card Reference). SKE47491.

<2> Arch Cant XI 1877 115-7 Illus (C Roach Smith) (OS Card Reference). SKE36446.

<3> Arch J 42 1885 277 (FCJ Spurrell) (OS Card Reference). SKE36631.

<4> VCH Kent III 1932 130-1 (OS Card Reference). SKE51181.

<5> Oral Mr LRA Grove BA FSA Curator Maidstone Museum (OS Card Reference). SKE47962.

<6> F2 EG 16-DEC-58 (OS Card Reference). SKE43306.

<7> F3 CFW 29-JAN-51 (OS Card Reference). SKE43390.

<8> F4 EG 02-JUL-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE43407.

<9> Field report for monument TQ 67 SE 30 - December, 1958 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3621.

<10> Field report for monument TQ 67 SE 30 - January, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3622.

<11> Field report for monument TQ 67 SE 30 - July, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3623.

<12> 1973, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10908.

<13> 1973, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10908.