Monument record TQ 77 NW 1075 - Unidentified mound, Roman Kiln?, Cliffe Marshes

One of a number of similar mounds in the vicinity (B-H centred TQ 744771) average about 15. 0m.by 10.0m and 1.0 m in height.
Evans was informed that the field to the NE, centred TQ 744772, was strewn with 'Roman potsherds' but none have been preserved, and none were found during field investigation.

The presence, nearby, of a Roman cremation group (see TQ 77 NW 4), and the finds of supposed Roman sherds, suggests that this was probably the site of a Roman Kiln; The association of kilns with burials is fairly common in this region.(see TQ 77 NW 1067).

Additional references (1-9) and site photographs (10-12).

The earthwork remains of shallow depression with a diameter of c.30m where a mound of black earth was allegedly removed in about 1956 on Wharf Farm, Cliffe. A slight scatter of burnt clay was visible in 1959. None of the pottery was retained. This former mound was one of eight similar mounds noted in the vicinity, averaging about 15. 0m.by 10.0m and 1.0 m in height (all recorded as a group in NMR Monument record 416625). The adjacent field was noted to be strewn with 'Roman potsherds' but none have been preserved, and none were found during field investigation. The presence, nearby, of a Roman cremation group (see TQ 77 NW 4), and the finds of supposed Roman sherds, suggests that this was probably the site of a Roman Kiln; The association of kilns with burials is fairly common in this region. (1)

[TQ 74297702]. A Roman pottery kiln, 15ft. long, was excavated
by R.F.Hutchings in July 1965. Pottery from the site was identified
by Maidstone Museum as being of prob. 3rd cent. date. (2)

The site of the kiln was indicated by Mr. Hutchings at
TQ 74287715.
He was encouraged to investigate this spot by a patch of nettles
and rye grass growing upon a slight mound above a dyke and by the finding of small sherds of pottery in the bank of the dyke.
(To be published later in Arch. Cant.) (3)

Additional bibliography. (4-6)

It is possible that some or all these mounds described are 19th century stock refuge mounds, many of which were constructed on low-lying pasture within the marshlands of the Hoo Peninsula and the margins of the Thames Estuary. Such mounds have been referred to and identified in contemporary writings (Spurrell, 1885). All of the mounds described above appear to be widely spaced within large post medieval fields.

Fieldwork, excavation and study of the silting processes on the mashes of the Hoo Peninsula indicate that it is unlikely that Roman sites will be found at the surface. Since the Roman period up to a meter of sediment has been noted to have built up in these areas. Roman finds in the marshes tend to come from sites exposed at the inter-tidal zone and in the sides of ditches, creeks and drains as noted by (3) above. There are a number of larger more irregular mounds adjacent to the water-courses in the immediate vicinity which are more likely to be former saltern mounds of medieval or earlier origin.

The surviving mounds and this depression have all been mapped from aerial photographs as part of the English Heritage:Hoo Peninsula Landscape Project. (7)

Oral: RF Hutchings Schoolmaster Cortsole Farm Cliffe (OS Card Reference). SKE48090.

<1B> Cant 6' (JH Evans July 1951) (OS Card Reference). SKE38485.

<1C> E Geary (FI) 25-JUN-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE41520.

<1> F1 FGA 10-NOV-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE42911.

<1A> Mr L C Batchelor Wharf Farm Cliffe (OS Card Reference). SKE47397.

<1D> Oral: RF Hutchings (OS Card Reference). SKE48089.

<3> F1 ASP 15-AUG-66 (OS Card Reference). SKE42116.

<7> National Monuments Record, 1953, Vertical aerial photograph reference number NMR RAF/82/713 01 0506 06-FEB-1953 (Photograph). SKE53798.

<8> Spurrell FCJ,, 1885, Early Sites and Embankments on the Margins of the Thames Estuary (Article in serial). SKE53799.