Monument record TR 26 SW 90 - Roman occupation at the land south of Island Road, Westbere

Summary

A huge amount of finds and features from the Roman period. Including 6000 pottery sherds and cremation and inhumation burials.

Location

Grid reference TR 21233 62309 (point)
Map sheet TR26SW
County KENT
District CANTERBURY, KENT
Civil Parish WESTBERE, CANTERBURY, KENT

Map

Type and Period (7)

Full Description

From the report:

"Exposure of a larger area during this operation (6630 square meters) has already allowed a much fuller understanding of the nature and layout of the settlement. A large number of features (238 at the time of writing), ditches, post-holes, pits and pit complexes, have been mapped and definite patterns have begun to emerge.

Other than ditches the western 80m is largely devoid of features. However, once the centre of the assessment area is reached the number of features increases substantially. A large area, up to 20m wide, and demarcated by dark grey soil (818) probably represents a large pit complex (cut 819). The pits appear not to be for rubbish disposal and it seems more likely that this is an industrial area perhaps associated with the quarrying of natural brickearth. Similar extensive soil stains (414 and 486) at the east end of the site may indicate similar activity.

A considerable number of post-holes, each representing the site of a vertical post, exist across the centre and east end of the assessment area, but as yet only two deinite structures have been recognised, Both of these building are 'four posters' (i.e. they consisted of a post at each corner) each only about 5m x 4m, and are usually interpreted as small granaries of Iron Age date. Fence lines of Iron Age or Roman date can also be identified.

On the ground the two most noticeable features of the assessment area however are two areas of gravel (566, 766) which form roads into and within the settlement area. The north to south aligned area of gravel (766) was first identigeid in the thre trial trenching of archaeological work. This deposit forms a road (Road 1) set more or less at right angles to the A28 itself built along the line of the Thanet to Canturbury Roman Road. As yet no definite surface has been exposed but 100m to the east a well preserved gravel road surface (566; Road 2) has already been revealed. This eastern area of gravel has a roadside ditch either side (cuts 649, 651). Once archaeological cleaned the north to south aligned roadwill probably produce similar ditches, just as had been found in the trial trenches to the north. Perhaps surprisingly the east to west aligned road is not at right angles to the north south road, and it is assumed that this angle represents the need for the road to reach a specific location (and of unknown function) outside the assessment area.

On-site a series of north to south aligned ditches between Road 2 and the A28 were identified. Three sets of ditches are set quite close together, between 5m and 12.50m apart, as can be seen on the plan. Although no gravel survives between them these ditches are considered to represent ditches either side of the track-ways. The ditches and track-ways divide the separate tenement plots of a roadside settlement. The timber features that probably existed on each plot of land are considered to lie further north; one has possibly already been recognised in the area of north to south access road, already stripped of topsoil. Five plots can be recognised to the east of Road 1 and although less obvious at least a further three plots can be seen to the west. One of these latter plots can be seen to be considerably wider than the others, 50m compared to the more normal 15-25m. Although no north to south aligned ditch is visible within this plot it is considered that originally two 'normal' sized plots rather than one large one would have existed, Excavation to the north of the assessment area may show whether this interpretation is correct.

Whilst in themselves the pits and post-holes present on the site are not uncommon the presence of these tenement plots indicate the site is of considerable archaeological interest. This arrangement into regular plots of land abutting a major Roman road is perhaps comparable to the extensive Roman 'small town' recently excavated at West Hawk Farm near Ashford. This particular site is so far unique for Kent and indeed there are not all that many Roman settlements of this type that have been excavated in southern Britain as a whole. The Island Road settlement if it is indeed similar, and the evidence is very suggestive also possesses an Iron Age precursor.

The uncovering of the these plots and the identification of structures and burial to the north along with the known chronological development of the site, creates a rare oppurtunity to study several different aspects of a settlement of this type. The potential variety of material is of more that just local interest. It can certainly be considered to be of regional interest and possibly due to the fact that so few such sites have been excavated, of national importance. Whatever its status, a study of this site will add considerably to our understand of Roman settlement over the 'Lowland Zone' of Britain."

(1)

Further work in 2001 found additional Roman and Medieval features but the report has not been seen by the HER team and there is no further information (2)


<1> Canterbury Archaeological trust, 2000, Land south of Island Road, Westbere, (Lake View International Business Park). Assessment of the E-W spine road area (Unpublished document). SKE13369.

<2> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2001, Archaeological evaluation of Land South of The Island Road, Hersden (Unpublished document). SKE54926.

Sources/Archives (2)

  • <1> Unpublished document: Canterbury Archaeological trust. 2000. Land south of Island Road, Westbere, (Lake View International Business Park). Assessment of the E-W spine road area.
  • <2> Unpublished document: Canterbury Archaeological Trust. 2001. Archaeological evaluation of Land South of The Island Road, Hersden.

Finds (2)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Events/Activities (1)

  • Intrusive Event: Assessment at the east west spine road on Island Road, Westbere, 2000 (Ref: 1468) (EKE9671)

Record last edited

Jun 4 2025 9:35AM