Monument record TR 36 NW 30 - Rectilinear settlement enclosure and possible barrow, Acol

Summary

The cropmarks of a rectilinear enclosure were identified in aerial photographs taken of an area to the east of Acol. The Thanet Sites and Monuments Archive report a number of Roman pottery sherds and fragments of tegulae in the area believed to be derived from this site. Modern roofing tile has also been found in at the site and local tradition reports an old building or barn known as 'Sparrow Castle' at this location. The rectilinear enclosure and pits have been mapped from aerial photographs as part of the Historic England Thanet Landscape Mapping Project 2024.

Location

Grid reference Centred TR 31507 67447 (111m by 110m)
Map sheet TR36NW
County KENT
District THANET, KENT
Civil Parish ACOL, THANET, KENT

Map

Type and Period (3)

Full Description

TR 320675. Cropmarks on air photos. CW 062-3 Roman villa?. (1)

In the area of the crop-mark there is a strong scatter of comparatively modern roofing tile. There is no evidence of the enclosure. The site falls on a slight slope on the N side of the Manston Road at TR 31926747. According to local tradition there was an old building or barn hereabouts called "Sparrow Castle". (2)

TR 315675. Cropmarks of a Romano British building. Site number 113, and at TR 319674 cropmarks of an enclosure site no. 115. (3)

TR 31946747. Rectilinear enclosure with some internal features. (4,5)

RCHME AP shows sub-circular cropmark consisting of pit features, adjacent to the enclosure at TR 3191 6752. A possible barrow. (7)

The cropmark shows up particularly well on Google Earth aerial photographs of 2013. (9)

KE 62 Listed as the possible site of a Roman villa. (10)

Site identified during transcription of features recorded on air photographs. (11)

The cropmark traces of the rectilinear settlement enclosure and pits described above have been mapped from aerial photographs as part of the Historic England Thanet Landscape Mapping Project 2024. The enclosure is irregular measuring c.90m x 77m with traces of internal sub-divisions and there are two large pits or depressions in the SE quadrant. This site is thought to be Roman in date based on the finds mentioned in source (2) above. (12-13)


Eleanor Scott, 1993, A gazetteer of Roman villas in Britain (Unspecified Type). SWX23549.

<1> Cambridge Univ. A.P. Catalogue Part 4, 1953, 165 (J.K. St. Joseph) (OS Card Reference). SKE38480.

<2> F1 AC 05-MAR-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE41765.

<3> Thanet Arch. Heritage c.1982, 9 (Thanet Dist. Council & Isle of Thanet Arch. Unit) (OS Card Reference). SKE49867.

<4> AP (NMR TR 3167/16, 1.08.85) (OS Card Reference). SKE33712.

<5> AP (NMR TR 3167/22, 13.06.86) (OS Card Reference). SKE33713.

<6> Isle of Thanet Arch. Unit Sites and Mons. Archive 1988, Record No 113 (OS Card Reference). SKE44738.

<7> Field report for monument TR 36 NW 30 - March, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE6233.

<8> Not applicable, SMR Kent uncatalogued index entry, RCHME Kent pilot mapping programme plot. (Miscellaneous Material). SKE6440.

<9> Google Earth (Graphic material). SWX15704.

<11> David McLeod/1986-7/RCHME Air Photo Unit Survey of Kent (OS Card Reference). SKE39678.

<12> Next Perspectives, 2003-2021, Next Perspectives APGB orthophotography, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery 14-APR-2015 (Archive). SKE57110.

<13> Historic England Archive, 1920-2024, Historic England Archive Specialist oblique aerial photographs, HEA 29750/28 29-JUN-2015 (Archive). SKE57106.

Sources/Archives (13)

  • --- (No record type): Eleanor Scott. 1993. A gazetteer of Roman villas in Britain.
  • <1> OS Card Reference: Cambridge Univ. A.P. Catalogue Part 4, 1953, 165 (J.K. St. Joseph).
  • <2> OS Card Reference: F1 AC 05-MAR-64.
  • <3> OS Card Reference: Thanet Arch. Heritage c.1982, 9 (Thanet Dist. Council & Isle of Thanet Arch. Unit).
  • <4> OS Card Reference: AP (NMR TR 3167/16, 1.08.85).
  • <5> OS Card Reference: AP (NMR TR 3167/22, 13.06.86).
  • <6> OS Card Reference: Isle of Thanet Arch. Unit Sites and Mons. Archive 1988, Record No 113.
  • <7> Bibliographic reference: Field report for monument TR 36 NW 30 - March, 1964.
  • <8> Miscellaneous Material: Not applicable. SMR Kent uncatalogued index entry. RCHME Kent pilot mapping programme plot..
  • <9> Graphic material: Google Earth.
  • <11> OS Card Reference: David McLeod/1986-7/RCHME Air Photo Unit Survey of Kent.
  • <12> Archive: Next Perspectives. 2003-2021. Next Perspectives APGB orthophotography. Next Perspectives APGB Imagery 14-APR-2015.
  • <13> Archive: Historic England Archive. 1920-2024. Historic England Archive Specialist oblique aerial photographs. HEA 29750/28 29-JUN-2015.

Finds (3)

Protected Status/Designation

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (2)

  • Non-Intrusive Event: Historic England Thanet Landscape - Aerial Investigation Mapping (EKE23827)
  • Non-Intrusive Event: RCHME: Kent Mapping Project (EKE20439)

Record last edited

Jan 21 2025 12:04PM