TQ 76 SW 31 - Site of possible Roman temple - Historic Environment Record

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Monument record TQ 76 SW 31 - Site of possible Roman temple

Summary

Since 1830 there have been reports of small finds in the area above Kits Coty House and possibly a building in a little coombe behind and to the east of The Lower Bell Inn. In the 1830s the building was recorded as a probable watch tower but in the 1840s the suggested use was a villa, a short distance south of a Roman burial ground. By the 1950s it was the belief that the site had been suitable for a temple but not for domestic use. Recorded finds over the years have been many and various. Building debris includes stones, paving, bonding, flue tiles, nails, roof tiles and iron clamps. Great amounts of pottery sherds (some samian), one glass vessel, jewellery and small instruments including tweezers, have been noted. In early records the building remains were recorded as being on a mound, in which at least one skeleton was found. Coin finds have included an urn found in the 1840s containing about 100 small brass Roman coins and as many as 200 other coins discovered later. The site is now wooded and no mound is visible.

Location

Grid reference	TQ 7485 6098 (point) FCE
Map sheet	TQ76SW
County	KENT
District	TONBRIDGE AND MALLING, KENT
Civil Parish	AYLESFORD, TONBRIDGE AND MALLING, KENT

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Type and Period (4)

Full Description

<1> OS 6" 1909 (OS Card Reference). SKE48324.

<2> OS 6" 1938-9 (OS Card Reference). SKE48357.

<3> Arch Vol 30 1844 p.536 dated 7.4.1842 (C R Smith communicating latter from T Charles of Maidstone) (OS Card Reference). SKE36940.

<4> Gents g 1842 pt 1 p.532 (OS Card Reference). SKE43580.

<5> Arch J Vol 1 1845 p.263 read 28 8 1844 (T Wright) (OS Card Reference). SKE36768.

<6> Wanderings of an Antiquary 1854 p.173 (T Wright) (OS Card Reference). SKE51271.

<7> JBAA Vol 4 1849 p.82 (Beale Poste) (OS Card Reference). SKE45014.

<8> Num Chron Vol 15 1853 p.59 (C R Smith) (OS Card Reference). SKE47739.

<9> JBAA Vol 12 1856 p.236 (Beale Poste) (OS Card Reference). SKE45010.

<10> Coins of the Anc Britons 1864 pp122 197 354 (J Evans) (OS Card Reference). SKE39064.

<11> Num Chron Vol 1 1839 p.84 (OS Card Reference). SKE47738.

<12> Coll Ant Vol 1 1848 p.6 (OS Card Reference). SKE39115.

<13> VCH Kent Vol 1 1906 p.330 (OS Card Reference). SKE51189.

<14> VCH Kent Vol 3 1932 p.104 (OS Card Reference). SKE51226.

<15> Beale-Poste MSS (Maidstone Museum) Vol 3 Sect 3 p.97-102 (OS Card Reference). SKE37614.

<16> Arch Cant Vol 62 1949 p.134 (J H Evans) (OS Card Reference). SKE36414.

<17> F1 ASP 14-MAY-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE42103.

<18> OS Map of Roman Britain (3rd Edition 1956) (OS Card Reference). SKE48421.

<20> Temples in Roman Britain 1966 p.124 (M J T Lewis) (OS Card Reference). SKE49829.

<21> BAR 24 The Religions of Civilian Roman Britain 1976 229 (M Green) (OS Card Reference). SKE37520.

<22> Field report for monument TQ 76 SW 31 - May, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4191.

<23> Field report for monument TQ 76 SW 31 - July, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4192.

Sources/Archives (22)

<1> SKE48324 OS Card Reference: OS 6" 1909.
<2> SKE48357 OS Card Reference: OS 6" 1938-9.
<3> SKE36940 OS Card Reference: Arch Vol 30 1844 p.536 dated 7.4.1842 (C R Smith communicating latter from T Charles of Maidstone).
<4> SKE43580 OS Card Reference: Gents g 1842 pt 1 p.532.
<5> SKE36768 OS Card Reference: Arch J Vol 1 1845 p.263 read 28 8 1844 (T Wright).
<6> SKE51271 OS Card Reference: Wanderings of an Antiquary 1854 p.173 (T Wright).
<7> SKE45014 OS Card Reference: JBAA Vol 4 1849 p.82 (Beale Poste).
<8> SKE47739 OS Card Reference: Num Chron Vol 15 1853 p.59 (C R Smith).
<9> SKE45010 OS Card Reference: JBAA Vol 12 1856 p.236 (Beale Poste).
<10> SKE39064 OS Card Reference: Coins of the Anc Britons 1864 pp122 197 354 (J Evans).
<11> SKE47738 OS Card Reference: Num Chron Vol 1 1839 p.84.
<12> SKE39115 OS Card Reference: Coll Ant Vol 1 1848 p.6.
<13> SKE51189 OS Card Reference: VCH Kent Vol 1 1906 p.330.
<14> SKE51226 OS Card Reference: VCH Kent Vol 3 1932 p.104.
<15> SKE37614 OS Card Reference: Beale-Poste MSS (Maidstone Museum) Vol 3 Sect 3 p.97-102.
<16>XY SKE36414 OS Card Reference: Arch Cant Vol 62 1949 p.134 (J H Evans). [Mapped feature: #24400 Roman building, ]
<17> SKE42103 OS Card Reference: F1 ASP 14-MAY-59.
<18> SKE48421 OS Card Reference: OS Map of Roman Britain (3rd Edition 1956).
<20> SKE49829 OS Card Reference: Temples in Roman Britain 1966 p.124 (M J T Lewis).
<21> SKE37520 OS Card Reference: BAR 24 The Religions of Civilian Roman Britain 1976 229 (M Green).
<22> SKE4191 Bibliographic reference: Field report for monument TQ 76 SW 31 - May, 1959.
<23> SKE4192 Bibliographic reference: Field report for monument TQ 76 SW 31 - July, 1959.