Skeletons, with pottery and a silver coin of Gordianus, were found at Broadstairs in 1896 on the site of the New Home, opposite the Lantern House. (1) Lantern House is listed in the Thanet Directories 1883-4 later becoming Lanthorne House. When Lanthorne Road was built the house name dropped out of use and its position cannot now be traced. There were a number of 'Homes' in the area some of which have been disbanded or amalgamated. Only one, 'The Lanthorne Convalescent Home for Children' TR 39496893 seems to be of about the right date but no the evidence was gained to support this. (2) (TR 394689 Name) Romano-British occupation site at Lanthorne Road. Refuse pits containg Belgic pottery were found, along with Roman pottery, including Samian. Other pits on the site revealed imbrex and tegula, and pieces of different types of mortaria. (3,4) [Probably part of the same site as TR 36 NE 4].

Lantern House appears on the 1st edition OS mapping of the area, on the north side of what became Lanthorne Road. The "New Home" is shown on the 2nd edition OS mapping where it is named as the Metropolitan Convalescent Institution (Children's Branch).

Additional reference (5)

Modern excavations within the vicinity of this discovery have also revealed Iron Age and Roman remains including further pitting and a possible Iron age field system. (6)

<1> Arch. Cant. 22, 1897, LI (G. Payne) (OS Card Reference). SKE36984.

<2> F1 CFW 04-OCT-63 (OS Card Reference). SKE42423.

<3> K.A.R. 28, 1972, 235 (OS Card Reference). SKE45214.

<4> Kent Arch. Review 29, 1972, 273-5 (H. Biggs) (OS Card Reference). SKE45894.

<5> Field report for monument TR 36 NE 17 - October, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE6158.

<6> Archaeology South - East, 2023, Archaeological Excavations at Lanthorne Road, Broadstairs, Kent A post-excavation assessment and updated project design (Unpublished document). SKE57117.