The remains of a Roman building have been found during the past few days, when clearing timber on the estate of Robert Bradford of Franks. The site is near the top of the gently rising Farningham Wood, close to the eminence known as Farningham Folly, and about a quarter of a mile from the mansion of Franks. Some few feet of the building are showing, but its character cannot as yet be determined, though the masonry and mortar are good and the tiles very well made. (1) A lead pipe and common potsherds were found at the time. (2) Fifteen sherds of Romano-British pottery were found in 1946 on the surface of Big Folly Field. (3) [O.S. 6" shows `The Folly' - name centred TQ 54796766.] O.S. 1" 1946 sites this building at TQ 548677 but the symbol is placed central to Folly Field, and is almost certainly an approximation. The O.S. Surveyor (O.N.B. 1932) could not locate it. (4) L.R. Groves (Pte 6" 1950), puts it at TQ 54836770, and this siting has been used on O.S. 6" 1961, but again it is an approximation based on Gents, Mag. (1) The site of this building is lost. Col. Meates, and others, have searched the area of the Folly at various times but without success. (a) Groves has no additional siting evidence. (5) "A Roman building on Folly Hill, approximately at TQ 548677" (6) (TQ 5467) Roman foundation. (7) (6,7)

<1> Gents' Mag., 1866, Pt. 1, 817 (C.R. Smith) (OS Card Reference). SKE43606.

<2> V.C.H. Kent., 3, 1932, 113 (OS Card Reference). SKE50776.

<3> Dartford Museum, Greenfield Index. `Darent Valley' 942,23 (OS Card Reference). SKE39674.

<4> Col. G.W. Meates, Hon. Corr (OS Card Reference). SKE39086.

<5> F1 CFW 24-SEP-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE42752.

<6> Arch Cant 88 1973 1 (Lt Col G W Meates) (OS Card Reference). SKE35921.

<7> Arch Cant 18 1889 307 No 35* map (F C J Spurrell) (OS Card Reference). SKE34772.

<8> Field report for monument TQ 56 NW 13 - September, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE2907.