Roman foundations near the Orange Tree Inn, Wilmington. About 1886, numerous tiles, extensive foundations showing wide rooms and narrow passages, with coins all of Roman date, were seen about 150 yards S.E. of the Orange Tree Inn. (1) [TQ 5417 7299] Roman foundations near the Orange Tree Inn, uncovered about 1886. Spurrell states that they were 150 yards S.E. of the inn, but on map facing p. 307 he shows the site to the N.E. (2) TQ 5417 7299. Siting 150 yards N.E. of the former site of the Orange Tree Inn, falls upon ground occupied by modern houses bordering Walnut Tree Avenue. No further information can be found regarding this find. Present location of coins not ascertained. (3) Additional bibliography. (4-6)

In the 1970s the Dartford District Archaeological Group carried out a series of test pitting exercises to attempt to re-locate the site. Initially looking in the area of Walnut Tree Avenue (following the idea that Spurrell had meant north east) and around Hawley Road and Oakfield Lane, a few fragments of Roman tile were found. In 1975 they secured permission to excavate the former allotments site at the end of Trafalgar Road. Test pitting here encountered more tile and a wall. The area of excavation was expanded and remains of the villa were found. The building extended beyond the limits of excavation in all directions. The elements exposed appeared to consist of a courtyard with what were interpreted as cow byres. A hypocaust was found on the western edge of site. Pottery and coins were of 3rd and 4th century date. Anglo-Saxon pottery suggests occupation of the site after the Roman period. (8)

An alternative interpretation of the building is that it is an aisled barn, the northern row of supporting posts having been lost to later truncation. (9)

<1> Arch. Cant. vol. 18, 1889, p. 312. Map facing p. 307.(F. C. J. Spurrell) (OS Card Reference). SKE37079.

<2> Pte. 6" (P. J. Tester, Feb. 1957) (OS Card Reference). SKE48899.

<3> F1 ASP 03-OCT-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE41912.

<4> Brit 7 1976 377 (R Goodburn) (OS Card Reference). SKE38330.

<5> Kent Arch Rev 44 1976 100 (B Philp) (OS Card Reference). SKE45782.

<6> Arch Cant 91 1975 212 (RM Walsh) (OS Card Reference). SKE36058.

<7> Field report for monument TQ 57 SW 12 - October, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3120.

<8> Baker, C., 1986, Rediscovering Dartford (Monograph). SWX7220.

<9> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2012, Archaeological Evaluation at the ‘Branches Out’ site, Trafalgar Road, Wilmington, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE17639.