The post-medieval land-use of this area is represented by a series of field boundaries and drainage ditches aligned along the length of the low lying ground. These are dated to the 19th and 20th centuries and are shown on the tithe map of 1825 and the 2nd edition OS map of 1895. These marked the southern limit of Corbier Hall Wood, a belt of woodland that had become established between the sites of Corbier Hall and Honeyhills Wood. The later boundaries were still in use during the 1958 excavation (1). To the south of these ditches, the fields were used as meadow and summer pasture which is reflected by a brick-built sheep dip identified south of the woodland boundary, towards its eastern end.

The history of drainage culminated in the 1950s when the land was turned over to an agrarian regime. Corbier Hall Wood was levelled, with numerous tree holes reflecting this woodland clearance. The sheep dip was also backfilled. A more extensive drainage pipe system was also installed, partly mirroring the earlier ditch system (2).

<1> Oxford Archaeological Unit, 2001, Thurnham Roman villa, post-excavation assessment report, Thurnham. (Unpublished document). SKE13710.

<2> Oxford Wessex Archaeology Joint Venture, 2006, The Iron Age settlement and Roman Villa at Thurnham, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE16390.