An excavation by the Lenham Archaeological Society in 2005 found that a ditch identified by aerial photography and geophysics work contained iron age pottery, a possible sherd of neolithic pottery and iron stone. The excavators also suggest that the former Royton Chapel may have been located at the site. The ditch ran north-south and was c. 200 cm wide and 60 cm deep. The iron age pottery was found in association with iron slag and patches of charcoal. The sherd interpreted as neoltihic had a decorated rim and resembled Ebbsfleet ware.(1)

<1> Lenham Archaeological Society, 2006, Report on research in the vicinity of Lenham (Miscellaneous Material). SKE13570.

<2> Lenham Archaeological Society, 2018, Late Iron Age Settlement at Royton-Mountcastle, Lenham Heath, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE32557.

<3> Lenham Archaeological Society, 2018, Late Iron Age Settlement at Royton-Mountcastle, Lenham Heath, Kent, Archaeological survey and excavations (Unpublished document). SKE52887.