Roman aisled building found in 1998-1999 prior to the construction of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link.

The presence of the aisled building, measuring approximately 21m x 13.5m, was confirmed by a geophysical survey of the Thurnham villa area in 1995 (1). This building was constructed to the east of Thurnham Roman villa (TQ 75 NE 374) over the north-eastern line of the Iron Age enclosure ditch which had silted up or been backfilled prior to construction. Twelve massive postholes supported the aisled building with shallow flint nodule and loose mortar foundations for its outer walls. A partition defined a separate room at the western end, within which a neatly constructed oven sat upon a crushed tufa floor. Ash deposits associated with the oven sealed much of the floor surface. The eastern end suffered from plough truncation. The large aisled building was constructed during the mid 2nd century, and occupation appears to have ceased by the mid 3rd century, with a soil layer sealing the surfaces within the building (2).

<1> Oxford Archaeological Unit, 1999, Thurnham Roman Villa, Thurnham, Kent Detailed Archaeological Works Interim Report Final (Unpublished document). SKE7014.

<2> Oxford Archaeological Unit, 2001, Thurnham Roman villa, post-excavation assessment report, Thurnham. (Unpublished document). SKE13710.