(TQ 54106552) A Romano-British burial was discovered in May 1957, by Mr C.W. Langdon while laying out his garden at 10 Pollyhaugh, Eynsford, about 80 yards north-east of the church. The grave was excavated by Mr and Mrs J. Allen who found many iron nails suggesting that the skeleton was enclosed in a wooden coffin. Three accompanying pottery vessels were dated by M.R. Hull to c. AD 300. (1)

Mr Langdon was not available but a neighbour indicated the site of the burial at TQ 54176542 (at the rear of No 10 Pollyhaugh, not Pollyhill). The present whereabouts of the finds was not ascertained, but the bones were submitted to the Department of Anatomy, St. Bartholomew's. (2)

Evaluation test pits for proposed house extension close to the site of a Roman inhumation (TQ 56 BW 32) found in the garden of the house in 1957. A few bone fragments (not reported if animal or human) and Roman pottery sherds were recovered. Nothing else of interest was noted. A neighbour who had viewed the original grave during excavation identifed the location precisely which is slightly different to the recorded NGR. (4)

The three accompanying pottery vessels were at the foot of the grave. The largest was a globuular vessel with a narrow cordonded neck, outcurved rim and decorated with horizontal lines. The two smaller finds were off a nother jar and a flanged dish. The pottery was dated to around c.200-250 AD. The notes,plans and drawings are with Dartford Museum of Library. The location of the bones and pottery is not known.(5-6)

In 2001 an excavation was carried out during the construction of an 9m x 3m extension to the house. Pieces of probable sheep bone were found together with 5 sherds of Roman pottery and 6 sherds of post medieval pottery.(7)

Additional bibliography (8-12)

<1> Various, 1959, Report for 1958, Arch Cant 72 1958 lxii (Lt Col G W Meates) (Article in serial). SKE8192.

<2> F1 CFW 24.09.64 (OS Card Reference). SKE42741.

<3> Field report for monument TQ 56 NW 32 - September, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE2923.

<4> Otford and District Archaeological Group, 2001, Excavation at 10 Pollyhaugh, Eynsford (Unpublished document). SKE7889.

<5> Philp, B. J., 2001, A Roman Burial at Eynsford, KAR 144 pages 72 - 75 (Article in serial). SKE8191.

<6> Meates, G. W., 1957 -1958, Romano-British Burial at Eynsford (Unpublished document). SKE11843.

<7> Otford and District Archaeological Group, 2001, Excavation at 10 Pollyhaugh, Eynsford, Kent: interim report (Unpublished document). SKE13621.

<8> Otford and District Archaeological Group, 2004, Report on Archaeological excavations at 10 Pollyhaugh, Eynsford, Kent (Unpublished document). Ske13622.

<9> Otford and District Archaeological Group, 2001, Excavation at 10 Pollyhaugh, Eynsford, Kent: interim report (Unpublished document). SKE13621.

<10> Otford and District Archaeological Group, 2004, Report on Archaeological excavations at 10 Pollyhaugh, Eynsford, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE13622.

<11> Otford and District Archaeological Group, 2001, Excavation at 10 Pollyhaugh, Eynsford, Kent: interim report (Unpublished document). Ske13621.

<12> Otford and District Archaeological Group, 2004, Report on Archaeological excavations at 10 Pollyhaugh, Eynsford, Kent (Unpublished document). Ske13622.