[TQ 5502 7487] Roman 1st century pottery found, 1955. (1) Trenches, dug during the constructing of an extension on the west side of Temple Hill County Primary School (N.G.R.551749) in June, 1955, showed sections of a number of dark-filled depressions in the Boyn Hill gravel. From the trench spoil, and also from the dark fillings, Mr. D. H. Phillips, a master at the school, collected a quantity of 1st century coarse pottery with some animal bones and teeth. The depressions were evidently rubbish pits and indicate a settlement at this point, though no tiles or traces of a stone building were observed. The pottery may be confidently referred to the 2nd half of the 1st century A.D. Cordons appear on several sherds, and the assemblage has a strong Belgic character. About twelve vessels can be identified from the sherds, including two Patch Grove vessels, and a flagon of Richborough type 188 dated to A.D.50-80. The pottery was roughly contemporary with that at the R.C. School nearby [TQ57SE19] The finds are being kept by the school. (2) "The pottery is now in the keeping of Mr. D. H. Phillips." [Detailed report on pottery found by Mr. P. Tester, also drawing of school plan shewing find spot (not to scale)]. (3) This area has been extensively developed and the school has been transferred onto the 25" from a 25" builder's plan. It is not absolutely accurate but it suffices to show the find spots as pointed out by Mr. Phillips. The entry of Authy. 2 requires amending regarding the provenance of the Richborough type flagon, this came from an extension to the school made May, 1956, at TQ 5517 7496. All the finds are kept by Mr. Phillips at the school, the intention being to display them there at some future date. The following entry must also apply to this school although it must have occurred prior to Mr. Phillips's arrival. (4) Silver denarius of Domitian unearthed on the site of the new school at Fullwich Road [Lane], Dartford on the 19th August, 1953, by Mr. C. Bricknell. The coin, which may be attributed to the period A.D.92-3, has been purchased for the Maidstone Museum. (5)

<1> Corr. 6" (P. J. Tester, Feb. 1957) (OS Card Reference). SKE39293.

<2> Arch. Cant. vol. 66, 1953, p. 157. (L. R. A. Grove) (OS Card Reference). SKE37098.

<3> Dartford Library. Archaeology: Roman & Saxon, Temple Hill. (File: MS. in progress) (OS Card Reference). SKE39653.

<4> F1 CFW 12-DEC-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE42543.

<5> Arch. Cant. vol. 70, 1956, p. 253. (P. J. Tester) (OS Card Reference). SKE37101.

<7> Field report for monument TQ 57 SE 18 - December, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3057.