Monument record TQ 67 SW 1391 - Mid-Roman temple building, Springhead, Northfleet

Excavation in 2000-2002 as part of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (ARC SPH00) found evidence of a Roman temple, probably dating to the mid 2nd century. The temple continued in use probably until the early 3rd century.

At some time in the early 2nd century the landscape around the springs at Springhead underwent significant change and what seems to be a sanctuary complex was established. The main feature of this was a temple aligned north-west to south-east and less than 5m from the head of the Ebbsfleet. The central part of the temple was rectangular and c. 13.5 m x 5m. It was defined by 6 pairs of flint and mortar foundation pads with two other pads placed centrally at each end. The foundation trenches between the pads were up to 0.50 m wide and 0.30 m deep and were filled with tightly-packed flint nodules but no mortar. Extending from the front corner pad on the south side of the building were the remains of a further, L-shaped foundation comprising a shallow, insubstantial slot filled with crushed chalk which had been truncated to the south-east. This may have been a later addition (see below), perhaps increasing the width of the building (to 7.5 m) by adding an aisle or an
ancillary structure to the side.Pottery from the floor was of mid-2nd century date and demolition debris contained pottery from the early 3rd century. The temple building was associated with a number of features including a clay and timber-lined tank and drain, a number of postholes and pits, human burials (particularly neonate) and a fence that secluded the building from the north.(1)

<1> Oxford Wessex Archaeology Joint Venture, 2010, Settling the Ebbsfleet Valley. CTRL Excavations at Springhead and Northfleet, Kent. The Late Iron Age, Roman, Saxon, and Medieval Landscape (Monograph). SKE31245.