[TQ 8286 6397] Roman Villa [R] (site of) [NAT] (1)

A scattered group of Roman buildings situated in the S.W. corner of Lower Dane Field first opened in the middle of the 18th century, again in 1845 and finally in 1848 by C. Roach Smith. The plan AO/61/285/5 shows the relative position of the various buildings, of which only those marked I, K and L, M are described in detail. It is a bath building 50ft. by 25ft. with furnaces, hypocausts, plastered walls and a lead drain pipe. K is a barn or "barn-house" 70ft. by 50ft. with buttresses to support the roof. L-M appears to part of a house under which there was a two roomed cellar containing several bushels of burnt and scorched wheat. Associated finds include a carved sarcophagus, coins, a folding balance, part of a scale beam, fibulae, toilet set, iron sickle, knives of all kinds, an adze, keys, a stylus, pieces of window glass, Samian, "Upchurch" and other pottery. The date of occupation is about the 3rd and 4th centuries. Most of the objects are in the Kent Archaeological Society Museum. (2)

The site of this villa falls within a well established orchard and there is nothing to be seen on the ground. The field name "Dane Field" is confirmed by an Estate map of 1844 which also has the entry "Site of a Roman Villa" written across the area centred TQ 827 6404. Brigadier Orr of Queensdown Warren in whose possession the map lies, could offer no further information on the site beyond the fact that in a dry summer the apparent line of a road is visible in the field to the S.W. of the villa, running away in a south-westerly direction. (3)

Two crop marks observed in field to E of villa site (during flight by Alan Ward, December 1992). Indistinct rectangular mark (at TQ83156412) orientated E-W, open at W end with enclosed area at E. Measures approximately 150x50m. Interpreted as walls of possible bath house and 'barn'. S of of this (TQ83206401) a second, more distinct, mark of an approx. 50m square building (or ditched enclosure) with a short right-angled section adjoining N side and a long linear feature (a ditch or water course) leading from the S side away SSW to the belt of trees to the S of the villa site. This linear feature intepreted as a continuation of the bath house drain. (5)

Also mentioned in Hasted with a crude plan.

Photographs (6-10)

Archive material: (11)

<1> OS 6" 1961 (OS Card Reference). SKE48369.

<2> VCH Kent 3 1932 117-8 illust (R E M Wheeler) (OS Card Reference). SKE51002.

<3> F1 CFW 21-NOV-61 (OS Card Reference). SKE42692.

<4> Field report for monument TQ 86 SW 1 - November, 1961 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4614.

<5> Alan Ward, 1992, Letter 22/12/1992 to KCC Re Hartlip Villa, Letter from Alan Ward (CAT) to KCC 22/12/92 (Unpublished document). SKE7964.

<6> STEPS (IN GARDEN) (COLL ANT VOL 2) SEE ALSO AO61/285/5 (PLAN) Types: VILLA (Photograph). SKE163.

<7> FROM THE SOUTH SIDE (COLL ANT VOL.2)SEE ALSO AO61/285/5 (PLAN) Types: VILLA (Photograph). SKE164.

<8> FROM THE NORTH SIDE (COLL ANT VOL.2)SEE ALSO AO61/285/5 (PLAN) Types: VILLA (Photograph). SKE165.

<9> FROM THE NORTH SIDE (COLL ANT VOL.2)SEE ALSO AO61/285/5 (PLAN) Types: VILLA (Photograph). SKE165.

<10> STEPS (IN GARDEN) (COLL ANT VOL 2) SEE ALSO AO61/285/5 (PLAN) Types: VILLA (Photograph). SKE163.

<11> Historic England, Archive material associated with Hartlip Roman Villa (Archive). SKE54257.

<11> FROM THE SOUTH SIDE (COLL ANT VOL.2)SEE ALSO AO61/285/5 (PLAN) Types: VILLA (Photograph). SKE164.