[TQ 54657386] Roman Cemetery [G.S.] (Site of) (1)

Roman burial ground, East Hill, Dartford. About 1792, workmen digging in East Hill field, then the property of Mr. Thomas Brandon, grocer of Overy Street, discovered a large sarcophagus containing a human skeleton, about 4 ft. below the surface. The bones were re-interred in the upper churchyard and the coffin eventually broken up. Quantities of broken pottery were also found. About 1797, a second stone sarcophagus, larger than the first, was found in the upper part of the field. The body it contained was enveloped in a chalky cement, which retained the impress of the grave clothes. These bones were also buried in the churchyard and the coffin broken up in 1810. In 1804, a workman, digging in the field for gravel, found many skeletons laid N to S and buried side by side in wooden coffins. A lachrymatory of clear green glass, 5" high, was broken by the workman's pickaxe. An earthen vessel about 6" high and fragments of corroded iron were found among the bones. In 1822 another stone coffin with a female skeleton, traces of linen covered with 'cement' and a coin of Constantinopolis was found. Mr. Landale, owner of the field, has found, 'within the compasss of a 1/4 acre", numbers of skeletons laid E-W on a thin layer of sand. No traces of wood were found. Several square pits, burnt on the sides, contained pieces of charcoal, pottery, etc. (2)

Stone coffin now in Dartford Church. (3)

The stone coffin is still in the church. East Hill Field is under rough pasture and has been quarried into the northern end. Other Roman finds, including pottery, a coin and a crucifix were found in this field c 1822 (See TQ 57 SW 42) (4)

An inhumation cemetery at East Hill, Dartford, investigated in 1965, yielded 35 graves with traces of the wooden coffins. (5)

Mr Ritson stated that the 35 graves were found in an E to W excavation trench centred at TQ 5465 7383, and according to trial trenches dug to N and S of this line, this appeared to be about the centre point of the cemetery. Time for excavation was limited due to proposed development of the area and further work on the cemetery has not been possible. The human remains were in a poor state of preservation due to the nature of the soil, but pottery found is in Dartford Museum. The stone coffin, formerly in Dartford Church, is also now in the museum. The site is still under rough pasture and no traces of the excavation are now apparent. Site resurveyed at 1:2500. (6)

Evaluation to assess the archaeological potential of the former Dartford Adult Education Centre in 1999. Three burials from a Romano-British cemetery (approx. TQ5477273800 & TQ5471073838) were excavated along with a section of an iron age ditch. No human remains were found due to the acidic nature of the soil, but grave cuts were seen and one contained coffin nails. The lack of remains may also be as a result of past activity on the site.(14)

<1> O.S. 6" 1938-9 (OS Card Reference). SKE47829.

<2> Hist & Ants. of Dartford, 1844, 91-5, footnote. Illust. facing p.16 (J.Dunkin) (OS Card Reference). SKE43763.

<3> Corr 6"(P.J.Tester, Feb.1957) (OS Card Reference). SKE39288.

<4> F1 ASP 11-SEP-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE42060.

<5> Mr.E.V.Ritson,Dartford Borough Museum. (OS Card Reference). SKE47430.

<6> JRS 57,1967,200. (OS Card Reference). SKE45135.

<7> F2 ASP 10-APR-70 (OS Card Reference). SKE43095.

<8> VCH Kent 3 1932 89 (REM Wheeler) (OS Card Reference). SKE51138.

<9> Kent Arch 82 1985 33-34 (CR Baker) (OS Card Reference). SKE45719.

<10> Arch Cant 88 1973 220-1 (RAC Cockett) (OS Card Reference). SKE35952.

<11> Field report for monument TQ 57 SW 9 - September, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3116.

<12> Field report for monument TQ 57 SW 9 - April, 1970 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3117.

<13> Not applicable, SMR Kent uncatalogued index entry, CAT Annula Review 1989 p33 (Miscellaneous Material). SKE6440.

<14> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2002, Evaluation at East Hill House, East Hill, Dartford, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE11955.

<15> Dartford District Archaeological Group, Arch Cant 1985, 1985, Inhumation remains found at East Hill, Dartford (Article in serial). SKE29323.