Cropmark of unknown trackway sited to TQ 6808 7224 from good quality air photographs. (1)

The cropmark remains of a curving trackway, probably of later prehistoric date could be seen to curve around the western and southern extent of the site of a Romano-British settlement (NMR Monument: 413704) dated through excavation to the 1st century AD. The trackway appears to be defined by parallel ditches with traces of a extensive incising through prolonged use between the ditches. This is more pronounced as the trackway proceeds eastwards. The remains are visible as one section of 430m which curves around to the south of the Roman site described above, an E-W section of 240m, and then after an interruption of 45m, a third fragmented secton of 350m which could be seen to curve southwards in the direction of Shorne. One small section of this has been recorded in an earlier survey as a fragment of enclosure (NMR Monument: 713737). Photographs taken in 1990 indicate a second branch to this secton with traces of two parallel ditches following a more direct NW-SE course. Both brances are flanked by a number of linear boundary ditches which may well form fields associated with the Roman settlement, but there are a number of phases of development represented so it is not entirely clear whether the track and settlement are contemporary.(2-7)

<1> Classification of Cropmarks in Kent. RCHM APU (1989) list 55 (OS Card Reference). SKE39018.

<2> 1990, Oblique aerial photograph reference number (Photograph). SKE55894.

<3> 1986, Oblique aerial photograph reference number (Photograph). SKE55893.

<4> Oblique aerial photograph reference number (Photograph). SKE55892.

<5> 1999, Oblique aerial photograph reference number (Photograph). SKE55891.

<6> Oblique aerial photograph reference number (Photograph). SKE55890.

<7> 1980, Vertical aerial photograph reference number (Photograph). SKE55889.