Monument record TQ 77 SW 181 - Anglo-Saxon settlement, Hoo Road, Wainscott

In 2007 Wessex Archaeology carried out an evaluation of the land at Hoo Road, Wainscott. They located a number of ditches and features (1) and the decision was made to fully excavate the area. (2)

The excavation found a series of ditches setting out enclosures which contained a sunken featured building (grubenhaus) and a number of pits, all of early middle Anglo-Saxon date. The enclosures were either side of a series of ditches that appeared to define a trackway 10m wide with numerous entrances to fields along its length, running north-east south-west across the area, extending below Hoo Road.

On the north-eastern side of the trackway there was a small enclosure containing a U-shaped structure, evidenced by a shallow gully probably intended for earth-fast posts or planks forming walls. The structure was open at one end, to the north-east and measured 5.5m long by 4.5m wide.

On the south-west side of the trackway there was another enclosure, containing a sunken featured building and two pits. The sunken featured building was 4m long, 3.5m wide and 0.15m deep with postholes at the two pairs opposite ends that would have supported the roof. There were also seven post or stake holes within the building. Iron slag was found within the hollow, along with nearly 1kg of 5th to 8th century AD pottery. A pit immediately east of the building may have been associated with it and also contained iron slag and 5th to 8th century AD pottery. Another pit further east was similar.

An unusual ring-shaped feature, consisting of a sub square ditch, 3.6m to 4.6m across, enclosing an area 2m to 2.5m is of uncertain function. The ditch fill contained 5th to 8th century AD pottery along with a Romano-British jar base, perhaps deliberately trimmed to form a flat disc.

A silver sceat was found in a tree throw. Tiny fragments of silver sheet were found in one of the trackway ditches but it is not clear what object they once came from. The shaft of a Roman medical or toilet instrument was found in one pit. (2)

These excavations are collated and summarised in a January 2015 'Publication Report' by CgMs. The report makes concluding interpretations of the different phases of occupation at the site but these are far too detailed to summarise here. See Source Ref for further information. (3)

<1> CgMs Consulting, 2007, An archaeological evaluation report: Land at Hoo Road, Wainscott, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE12946.

<2> CgMs Consulting, 2009, Post-Excavation Assessment Report and Updated Project Design for Analysis and Publication: Hoo Road, Wainscott, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE16706.

<3> CgMs Consulting, 2015, Publication Text: Prehistoric and Romano-British Activity and Anglo-Saxon Settlement: Hoo Road, Wainscott, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE31283.