TQ 76 SW 16 - Romano-British building and debris. Supposed Mithraic temple at Wouldham

It should not be assumed that this site is publicly accessible and it may be on private property. Do not trespass.

Monument record TQ 76 SW 16 - Romano-British building and debris. Supposed Mithraic temple at Wouldham

Summary

In 1893 excavations in a sand bank on the eastern side of the river Medway at Wouldham revealed a collapsed building.It was originally 41ft x 19ft x 14ft high (13m x 5.79m x 4.27m high) and built entirely of chalk blocks. The walls were 3ft thick (0.91m).The eastern wall had 3 niches 3ft (0.91m)from the floor and about 3ft (0.91m) wide and 4ft high (1.22m). They were recessed to a depth of almost 2ft (0.61m). The interior of the building was faced with carefully cut blocks of chalk, with a deeply incised chevron pattern, set in hard mortar.The arched roof had collapsed, filling the chamber. In the sand bank, fragments of Roman tile, pottery and painted wall plaster were found. The debris inside the chamber included bones of ox and horse, fragments of tile, the handle of an amphora, several iron nails and a coin of Constantine. One tile bore the imprint of the sole of a shoe studded with hob-nails. It was earlier presumed to be a Romano-British Mithraic Temple but a later suggestion classed the building as a chalk cellar for storing wine and oils. One of the chalk blocks is in Maidstone Museum. The site is now overgrown with no visible signs of the building.

Location

Grid reference	TQ 7137 6250 (point) FCE
Map sheet	TQ76SW
County	KENT
District	TONBRIDGE AND MALLING, KENT
Civil Parish	BURHAM, TONBRIDGE AND MALLING, KENT

Map

Find a placename, postcode or grid reference

Map layers

Base layers

Info

Record list

Tools

Type and Period (2)

Full Description

<1> OS 6" 1939 (OS Card Reference). SKE48359.

<2> Mus 6" (LRA Grove Curator Maidstone Mus 29 5 1950) (OS Card Reference). SKE47482.

<3> PSA 2nd Ser Vol 16 1895-7 p.105-13 illus (G Payne and F James) (OS Card Reference). SKE48805.

<4> Arch Cant Vol 70 1956 p.168-71 (RF Jessup) (OS Card Reference). SKE36432.

<5> PSA (Scot) Vol 29 1895 p.202-6 (J Lang) (OS Card Reference). SKE48752.

<6> F1 CFW 30-JUN-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE42836.

<7> F2 ASP 20-OCT-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE43140.

<8> Temples in Ro Brit 1966 107 (MJT Lewis) (OS Card Reference). SKE49824.

<9> Arch of Kent 1930 212 253 (R Jessup) (OS Card Reference). SKE36894.

<10> MITHRAIC CHAMBER - REMAINS OF WESTERN ENTRANCE NOW DESTROYED BOTH 'PICTURES' ARE ILLUSTRATIONS CUT F (Photograph). SKE567.

<10> PSA 2nd Ser 15 1893-5 184-5 (G Payne) (OS Card Reference). SKE48782.

<11> Field report for monument TQ 76 SW 16 - June, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4175.

<11> WOULDHAM "CAVE". VIEW OF EAST END SHOWING ARCHED RECESSES. DISTANCE FROM ENTRANCE = 40 FEET. Types: (Photograph). SKE439.

<12> Field report for monument TQ 76 SW 16 - October, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4176.

<12> SUPPOSED MITHRAIC CAVE. VIEW LOOKING E. SHOWING ENTRANCE TO CAVE, AND WEST WALL. Types: MITHRAEUM (Photograph). SKE431.

<13> WOULDHAM CAVE.(LOOKING SOUTH). PORTION OF NORTH AND SOUTH WALLS. THE W. WALL AND ENTRANCE REMOVED. T (Photograph). SKE437.

<14> MITHRAIC CHAMBER - VIEW OF EAST END WITH REMAINS OF NICHES DESTROYED 1894.FROM PSA/II/XVI.SEE ALSO A (Photograph). SKE566.

<15> MITHRAIC CHAMBER - REMAINS OF WESTERN ENTRANCE NOW DESTROYED BOTH 'PICTURES' ARE ILLUSTRATIONS CUT F (Photograph). SKE567.

<16> WOULDHAM CAVE. ANGLE OF S.WALL AT ENTRANCE LOOKING S.E., SHOWING INCISED ORNAMENTATION ON MASONRY. T (Photograph). SKE435.

<17> WOULDHAM CAVE. NR VIEW,LOOKING E,OF ARCHED ENTRANCE & BACK OF W.WALL SHOWING MASONRY COURSES WITH RE (Photograph). SKE432.

<18> WOULDHAM CAVE. VIEW OF INNER FACE OF N.WALL. Types: MITHRAEUM (Photograph). SKE438.

<19> WOULDHAM CAVE. VIEW LOOKING DUG EAST. THE WEST WALL AND ENTRANCE REMOVED. Types: MITHRAEUM (Photograph). SKE436.

<20> WOULDHAM CAVE. ENTRANCE LOOKING N.E. Types: MITHRAEUM (Photograph). SKE434.

<21> WOULDHAM CAVE. ENTRANCE FROM THE WEST. Types: MITHRAEUM (Photograph). SKE433.

<22> WOULDHAM CAVE. ENTRANCE LOOKING N.E. Types: MITHRAEUM (Photograph). SKE434.

<23> WOULDHAM CAVE. VIEW LOOKING DUG EAST. THE WEST WALL AND ENTRANCE REMOVED. Types: MITHRAEUM (Photograph). SKE436.

<24> WOULDHAM CAVE. ANGLE OF S.WALL AT ENTRANCE LOOKING S.E., SHOWING INCISED ORNAMENTATION ON MASONRY. T (Photograph). SKE435.

<25> WOULDHAM CAVE. VIEW OF INNER FACE OF N.WALL. Types: MITHRAEUM (Photograph). SKE438.

<26> WOULDHAM CAVE. NR VIEW,LOOKING E,OF ARCHED ENTRANCE & BACK OF W.WALL SHOWING MASONRY COURSES WITH RE (Photograph). SKE432.

<27> SUPPOSED MITHRAIC CAVE. VIEW LOOKING E. SHOWING ENTRANCE TO CAVE, AND WEST WALL. Types: MITHRAEUM (Photograph). SKE431.

<28> WOULDHAM "CAVE". VIEW OF EAST END SHOWING ARCHED RECESSES. DISTANCE FROM ENTRANCE = 40 FEET. Types: (Photograph). SKE439.

<29> WOULDHAM CAVE. ENTRANCE FROM THE WEST. Types: MITHRAEUM (Photograph). SKE433.

<30> MITHRAIC CHAMBER - VIEW OF EAST END WITH REMAINS OF NICHES DESTROYED 1894.FROM PSA/II/XVI.SEE ALSO A (Photograph). SKE566.

<31> WOULDHAM CAVE.(LOOKING SOUTH). PORTION OF NORTH AND SOUTH WALLS. THE W. WALL AND ENTRANCE REMOVED. T (Photograph). SKE437.

Sources/Archives (34)

<1> SKE48359 OS Card Reference: OS 6" 1939.
<2> SKE47482 OS Card Reference: Mus 6" (LRA Grove Curator Maidstone Mus 29 5 1950).
<3> SKE48805 OS Card Reference: PSA 2nd Ser Vol 16 1895-7 p.105-13 illus (G Payne and F James).
<4>XY SKE36432 OS Card Reference: Arch Cant Vol 70 1956 p.168-71 (RF Jessup). [Mapped feature: #24245 Roman temple, ]
<5> SKE48752 OS Card Reference: PSA (Scot) Vol 29 1895 p.202-6 (J Lang).
<6> SKE42836 OS Card Reference: F1 CFW 30-JUN-59.
<7> SKE43140 OS Card Reference: F2 ASP 20-OCT-64.
<8> SKE49824 OS Card Reference: Temples in Ro Brit 1966 107 (MJT Lewis).
<9> SKE36894 OS Card Reference: Arch of Kent 1930 212 253 (R Jessup).
<10> SKE48782 OS Card Reference: PSA 2nd Ser 15 1893-5 184-5 (G Payne).
<10> SKE567 Photograph: MITHRAIC CHAMBER - REMAINS OF WESTERN ENTRANCE NOW DESTROYED BOTH 'PICTURES' ARE ILLUSTRATIONS CUT F. P29110. Black and White. Print.
<11> SKE4175 Bibliographic reference: Field report for monument TQ 76 SW 16 - June, 1959.
<11> SKE439 Photograph: WOULDHAM "CAVE". VIEW OF EAST END SHOWING ARCHED RECESSES. DISTANCE FROM ENTRANCE = 40 FEET. Types: . BB91/02479. Black and White. Negative.
<12> SKE4176 Bibliographic reference: Field report for monument TQ 76 SW 16 - October, 1964.
<12> SKE431 Photograph: SUPPOSED MITHRAIC CAVE. VIEW LOOKING E. SHOWING ENTRANCE TO CAVE, AND WEST WALL. Types: MITHRAEUM. BB91/02471. Black and White. Negative.
<13> SKE437 Photograph: WOULDHAM CAVE.(LOOKING SOUTH). PORTION OF NORTH AND SOUTH WALLS. THE W. WALL AND ENTRANCE REMOVED. T. BB91/02477. Black and White. Negative.
<14> SKE566 Photograph: MITHRAIC CHAMBER - VIEW OF EAST END WITH REMAINS OF NICHES DESTROYED 1894.FROM PSA/II/XVI.SEE ALSO A. P29109. Black and White. Print.
<15> SKE567 Photograph: MITHRAIC CHAMBER - REMAINS OF WESTERN ENTRANCE NOW DESTROYED BOTH 'PICTURES' ARE ILLUSTRATIONS CUT F. P29110. Black and White. Print.
<16> SKE435 Photograph: WOULDHAM CAVE. ANGLE OF S.WALL AT ENTRANCE LOOKING S.E., SHOWING INCISED ORNAMENTATION ON MASONRY. T. BB91/02475. Black and White. Negative.
<17> SKE432 Photograph: WOULDHAM CAVE. NR VIEW,LOOKING E,OF ARCHED ENTRANCE & BACK OF W.WALL SHOWING MASONRY COURSES WITH RE. BB91/02472. Black and White. Negative.
<18> SKE438 Photograph: WOULDHAM CAVE. VIEW OF INNER FACE OF N.WALL. Types: MITHRAEUM. BB91/02478. Black and White. Negative.
<19> SKE436 Photograph: WOULDHAM CAVE. VIEW LOOKING DUG EAST. THE WEST WALL AND ENTRANCE REMOVED. Types: MITHRAEUM. BB91/02476. Black and White. Negative.
<20> SKE434 Photograph: WOULDHAM CAVE. ENTRANCE LOOKING N.E. Types: MITHRAEUM. BB91/02474. Black and White. Negative.
<21> SKE433 Photograph: WOULDHAM CAVE. ENTRANCE FROM THE WEST. Types: MITHRAEUM. BB91/02473. Black and White. Negative.
<22> SKE434 Photograph: WOULDHAM CAVE. ENTRANCE LOOKING N.E. Types: MITHRAEUM. BB91/02474. Black and White. Negative.
<23> SKE436 Photograph: WOULDHAM CAVE. VIEW LOOKING DUG EAST. THE WEST WALL AND ENTRANCE REMOVED. Types: MITHRAEUM. BB91/02476. Black and White. Negative.
<24> SKE435 Photograph: WOULDHAM CAVE. ANGLE OF S.WALL AT ENTRANCE LOOKING S.E., SHOWING INCISED ORNAMENTATION ON MASONRY. T. BB91/02475. Black and White. Negative.
<25> SKE438 Photograph: WOULDHAM CAVE. VIEW OF INNER FACE OF N.WALL. Types: MITHRAEUM. BB91/02478. Black and White. Negative.
<26> SKE432 Photograph: WOULDHAM CAVE. NR VIEW,LOOKING E,OF ARCHED ENTRANCE & BACK OF W.WALL SHOWING MASONRY COURSES WITH RE. BB91/02472. Black and White. Negative.
<27> SKE431 Photograph: SUPPOSED MITHRAIC CAVE. VIEW LOOKING E. SHOWING ENTRANCE TO CAVE, AND WEST WALL. Types: MITHRAEUM. BB91/02471. Black and White. Negative.
<28> SKE439 Photograph: WOULDHAM "CAVE". VIEW OF EAST END SHOWING ARCHED RECESSES. DISTANCE FROM ENTRANCE = 40 FEET. Types: . BB91/02479. Black and White. Negative.
<29> SKE433 Photograph: WOULDHAM CAVE. ENTRANCE FROM THE WEST. Types: MITHRAEUM. BB91/02473. Black and White. Negative.
<30> SKE566 Photograph: MITHRAIC CHAMBER - VIEW OF EAST END WITH REMAINS OF NICHES DESTROYED 1894.FROM PSA/II/XVI.SEE ALSO A. P29109. Black and White. Print.
<31> SKE437 Photograph: WOULDHAM CAVE.(LOOKING SOUTH). PORTION OF NORTH AND SOUTH WALLS. THE W. WALL AND ENTRANCE REMOVED. T. BB91/02477. Black and White. Negative.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (1)

Intrusive Event: MESSRS PETERS' CEMENT WORKS,NR. WOULDHAM, 1894 (Ref: EI 15194) (EKE4737)

Record last edited

Aug 3 2021 12:59PM