In August 1893 CE Woodruff excavated at the slight mound on the left hand side of the road to Greenborough (the Strayway) not far from the Stayhills Marsh. At a depth of about 7' he found a rubbish pit, marked out at the corners by stout oak staves, which contained oyster shells and potsherds, two vessels of Upchurch ware, some Samian, a large flanged file and bones and horns of oxen. (1) At about the same time he found at the base of the mound the remains of a circular kiln. The section left indicated an internal diameter of c.3'; the broken down wall of hard baked clay was 1' high and 6" thick. (1) In June 1895 Woodruff, with G Payne, again excavated at the base of a mound finding a large quantity of broken pottery, including Samian, and portions of kiln bricks. (2) This mound appears to be the one visited by Lt. Col. Fagan in 1894, and described by him as c.300 yds from the Slay Hills sea-wall and a short distance west of the road (i.e. at approx TQ 85667016) where he found Samian sherds and the remains of a kiln. (3) (1-3) On the west side of the strayway, at TQ 85687015, there is an irregular-shaped mound some 15.0m across and 1.5m in height surrounded by kiln debris and wasters; it is undoubtedly the mound referred to. There is no trace of the site of the cremation. (4) Additional reference, information as above (5,6). Additional references from relevant sources (7-9).

<1> PSA 2nd ser vol 15 (1893-5) 43-5 (CW Woodruff) (OS Card Reference). SKE48803.

<2> Arch Cant vol 22 (1897) lii-liii (G Payne) (OS Card Reference). SKE36380.

<3> MS note in a copy of Paynes 'Collectanea Continana' by Lt Col Fagan its original owner (OS Card Reference). SKE47456.

<4> Arch Cant vol 62 (1949) 146-7 (JH Evans) (OS Card Reference). SKE36410.

<5> F1 CFW 14-AUG-63 (OS Card Reference). SKE42567.

<6> Pottery Kilns of Ro Britain RCHME Supplementary Series 5 1984 414 (VG Swan) (OS Card Reference). SKE48567.

<7> Woodruff, C. E., 1893, Upchurch Marshes, Woodruff (Article in serial). SWX7792.

<8> Monaghan, J., 1983, An investigation of the Romano-British pottery industry on the Upchurch Marshes, Monaghan (Article in serial). SWX7538.

<9> anon, 1897, Medway Marshes (Article in serial). SWX9345.