[TQ 61747246] VAGNIACA [R] (Site of) [NAT] (01)
Springhead (Vagniacae) Roman Town. (38)

Vagniacae is noted only once - in the Second Iter of the Antonine Itinerary - as being 9 Roman miles from Durobrivae towards Noviomagus, and this agrees reasonably with the Springhead settlement although Noviomagus has yet to be identified. It is not mentioned in the Third and Fourth Iters, the Peutinger Tables or the Ravenna List. Numerous early finds were made at the site, including a walled cemetery (TQ 67 SW 89) in 1801, baths in 1814, and burials and a kiln ( TQ 67 SW 87 and 88) during road widening 1921-2 (see VCH for a summary of pre-1932 finds), but no serious excavation was attempted until 1951-63 when W.S. Penn excavated here on behalf of the M.O.W. Work was concentrated in a small area centred at TQ 6178 7247 and revealed, inter alia, a complex of five temples dating from the late 1st to early 4th c. (see TQ 67 SW 86). Subsequent road widening throughout 1964 has revealed a further temple well away from the main complex at TQ 6205 7210, numerous building sites and a probable Claudian ditch at TQ 6189 7241. The most recent find is a hoard of over 400 late 4th c. silver and gold coins found 22.10.64 at TQ 6176 7250. All these discoveries have been noted by the Gravesend Historical Society and will be published. For the siting of these and other items see the 25" map diagram. (02)

Name 'VAGNIACIS'? accepted for 4th. edition R.B.Map. Scheduled No 158 (03)

Photographs and Plans of site (19 - 24)

Additional Bibliography not consulted (04 - 15, 25)

Surface collection survey of 1993 covered the entire area designated as a SAM. No significant pre-Roman pottery sherds were found and little in the way of medieval pottery was found either. The survey produced the results expected with dense concentrations of Roman pottery and tile. The pottery was concentrated around a triangular area centred on TQ6172072460 (410m by 140m approx, the baseline following the line of the A2), decreasing toward the south-east, south and south-west. Samian, grog-tempered and course wears were well represented, but few fine ware fragments were recovered. This indicates that archaeological excavation and ploughing of the fields has brought a large amount of pottery to the surface in the NE section of the SAM. Absence of finds in other parts may indicate the lack of buried remains or undisturbed remains. The finds recorded are consistent with the established model for the Springhead settlement of fairly intensive Roman activity from the 1st-4th centuries AD. No material suggesting pre-Roman occupation was recovered and the general scatter of post-medieval material is consistent with the use of the area for market gardening in recent times.(16)

A draft report by Victor Smith traces the route of the Roman road of Watling Street through the settlement (17)

Desk based assessment in 1993. (18)

Evaluation trenching along the route of Seeboard cable trenches cross the Springhead SAM site. A succession of road surfaces, cobbled surfaces, pits, ditches, gullies, hearthes, possible floor layers and postholes were found. A concentration of pits appears to have been associated with metalworking activity. The features dated mainly to the 1st and 2nd centuries.(26 & 27)

Evaluation trenching to assess the archaeological potential of the locations of replacement greenhouses/shop/store at Springhead nursey. Seven trenches revealed very few archaeological features and finds. Prehistoric activity is represented by two pieces of struck flint, including a barbed and tanged arrowhead (see TQ 67 SW 261]. Roman activity is represented by a metalled trackway, perhaps on a Roman terrace, that heads from Springhead to the valley floor and some insubstantial structural remains and associated surfaces? Activity is confined to the higher ground in the western part of the site [28].

Interim report on the archaeological evaluation work at springhead (see below). [29].

Final fieldwork report for the archaeological evaluation work at Springhead (NB this supercedes the interim report which does not differ in interpretation from the final report]. The vast majority of archaeological features were of early Romano-British date (1st-2nd century AD), although a few prehistoric features were also identified [see TQ 67 SW 271 and TQ 67 SW 275]. The early Roman features were concentrated towards the floor of the Ebbsfleet valley and included a probable road, ditches, a hollow way, wall footings/structural remains, burials, postholes (some forming fencelines?), pits, a hearth, surfaces, occupation deposits, a midden and possible terracing. The evaluation also helped to define the north western extent of the Roman town.

The Roman road feature ran in a SE-NW direction, from Springhead towards Swanscombe. There was some evidence of crop processing by the road and at least 3 and probably 5 inhumation burials were recorded adjacent to the road, aligned N-S and without grave goods. The extent of the cemetery was not determined. Some of the ditches and gullies recorded may have been associated with the road and the cemetery, while others defined plots, boundaries and structures. One trench revealed part of a structure with chalk footings and associated surfaces probably representing a floor surface, an occupation deposit and a destruction level. A metalled surface in another trench, with postholes cut into it, has been interpreted as a yard surface. There is some evidence of terracing on the eastern slope and a N-S running hollow way, with a midden-like deposit as its upper fill. A large enclosure or boundary ditch was also picked up in one trench on the higher ground to the NE.Part of the southern area was test pitted, revealing similar features to the trenches, including a number of chalk surfaces interpreted as floor or yard surfaces. A substantial pottery assemblage from this early Roman period was recovered.

No features and only a small quantity of later Romano-British pottery came from any of the trenches or test pits which contained 1st-2nd century features and finds. Two large enclosure ditches, in the north of the site, have been dated to the later Roman period. The report suggests therefore that the settlement may have shrunk in the later Roman period, at least in its north-west periphery and around the source of the River Ebbsfleet.
No Saxon or medieval activity was found during the evaluation. A series of low, unmortared, 'dwarf walls' probably represented ?19th century watercress beds [30].

Evaluation trenching along side the southern part of the A2 uncovered a small number of Roman finds and deposits, a possible floor surface/yard, including a pit, which may lie within the temple complex (specifically B5). (31)

Sanctuary

In the later 1st and 2nd century the area at the head of the Ebbsfleet was altered. The ground level was raised, burying an earlier road (TQ 67 SW 214) and new structures built before coming the focus for a sanctuary complex. The sanctuary consisted of two phases; the first of timber and then later in stone. The sanctuary was made up of a main structure overlooking a pool at the head of the Ebbsfleet, a series of bakeries, a timber lined tank, a porticoed structure with a tree surrounded by pits with structured deposits. The site was enclosed by a substantial fence and pits. Further up the slope of the valley were a number of feasting or viewing platforms and a ritual shaft. A large quantity of coins, brooches and other metalwork have been recovered from in front of the sanctuary. It seems that the sanctuary lasted through the 1st and 2nd centuries although ritual deposition at the spring continued into the 4th century.

There seems to have been some domestic occupation in the area, but the evidence so far is poor. (32)

Evaluation work in 2003 on the Sprighead Quarter siteproduced marginal evidence for Roman occupation, possibly as it was on the periphery of the site. The re-cutting of earlier iron age ditches (TQ 67 SW 323) dues suggest some continuity. Any occupation in the north-east of the excavation site has been largely truncated and disrupted by modernfeatures. During the evaluation part of a naked human figurine was recovered, although from un stratified deposits. The torso, arms and upper part of the legs survive. It is possibly of a female figure, possibly a pseudo-venus series from the 2nd century AD.(33)

Additional information (34)

Excavation work at Springhead Nursery recovered extensive evidence for Roman activity along the western side of the River Ebbsfleet. Over 80 metres of Watling Street (TQ 57 SE 120) and a branch road, referred to as R2 by the excavators, were uncovered. At the junction of the two roads chalk footings of a small structure were found built on earlier metallings. Over 20 3rd to 4th century coins were found here and it has been interpreted as a small roadside shrine.

In addition to Watling St and R2, a third street gave access to the waterfront, branching off R2 and to the rear of several properties. Eight or more buildings, both timber and stone built were excavated alongside the streets. These buildings included a smithy, a bakery, possible dyeing complex, and represent industrial or craft industries found usually on the outskirts of towns.

The waterfront appears to have been in use from the later 1st century until possibly the 4th century AD. It comprised simple post or plank revetments and perhaps small jetties and appears to have been maintained at the rear of individual properties rather than as a whole.

A temple had been built at the head of the river, set within a temenos. It had been built on an area of infilled ground possibly in the mid 2nd century and continued in use until the 3rd or 4th centuries. It was a substantial stone building, of two or three phases, with a central tower with a tile entrance porch, and was flanked by two later wings which contained traces of wall painting. Further south were the fragmentary remains of what may have been a bathhouse, possibly associated with the temple.

On the western edge of the site, between Watling Street and R2 were two small brickearth quarries and a small later Roman inhumation cemetery extending beyond the extent of the excavation site.(35)

Additional excavtion work at the Springhead Nursery in 2003 revealed further evidence for the industrial workings and road close to the western edge of the Roman waterfront. There is evidence that the road giving access to the waterfront continued in use until the 3rd - 4th century after the buildings had been abandoned and the settlement at Springhead contracted.(36)

Additional recording of section of cemetery wall. No polygon attached (Aug 2006 Kent SMR Enhancement Work - details/plans needed of full extent of cemetery wall to allow completion of this task) [37]

A variety of pottery wares were identified, grog tempered, shelly, coarse grey, white, colour coated, plus samian and a piece of Dressel 20 amphora. Two thirds of the pottery assemblage came from the sanctuary site. A wide variety of brooches were found,, including brass and copper alloy Langton Down brooches, Nauheim derivate brooches, a Thistle brooch, Rosette brooches, Aucissa brooches, Hod Hill brooches, Colchester and Colchester derivative brooches, bow-and-fantail brooches, headstud brooches, Trumpet brooches, Knee brooches and a range of plate brooches. (39)

Additional bibliography (40-45)

Archive material (46)

Location accurate to 10m based on available information

Historic England, Archive material associated with Vagniacis Scheduled Monument (Archive). SKE53914.

<01> OS 6" 1938 (OS Card Reference). SKE48349.

<02> OS Map Roman Britain 1956 (OS Card Reference). SKE48424.

<03> VCH Kent 3, 1932, 90-3 (R.E.M. Wheeler) (OS Card Reference). SKE51163.

<04> Arch.Cant.71,1957,53-105 plans, illus.(W.S. Penn) (OS Card Reference). SKE37197.

<05> Arch.Cant. 72, 1958, 77-110 (OS Card Reference). SKE37176.

<06> Arch.Cant. 73, 1959, 1-61 (OS Card Reference). SKE37178.

<07> Arch.Cant. 74, 1960, 113-140 (OS Card Reference). SKE37179.

<08> Arch.Cant. 77, 1962, 110-132 (OS Card Reference). SKE37180.

<09> Arch.Cant. 78, 1963, lii, (A.F. Allen) (OS Card Reference). SKE37181.

<10> Oral. B.J. Philp, W.Wickham (OS Card Reference). SKE48004.

<11> Oral.P.Connolly, Gravesend. (OS Card Reference). SKE48013.

<12> Oral A.F. Allen, Local Secy. K.A.S. Shorne. (OS Card Reference). SKE47908.

<13> F1 CFW 29-OCT-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE42821.

<14> DOE(IAM)Record Form 24.10.77 (A Musty) (OS Card Reference). SKE41460.

<15> Field report for monument TQ 67 SW 6 - October, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3632.

<16> Oxford Archaeological Unit, 1993, Springhead, Northfleet, Kent Archaeological Assessment: Surface Collection Survey (Unpublished document). SWX6920.

<17> Untitled Source, Victor Smith 1997, Fig Nos. 1 (Unpublished document). SKE6451.

<18> Oxford Archaeological Unit, 1993 Nov, Springhead, Northfleet, Kent Scheduled Ancient Monument (Unpublished document). SWX6935.

<19> PLAN OF SETTLEMENT,TEMPLES,ETC. (ONE TREE FIELD SITE) FROM ARCH CANT/ IDENTICAL TO AO/LP/64 (Photograph). SKE272.

<19> Oxford Archaeological Unit, 1996, Northfleet, Springhead: Post-Excavation Assessment and Research Design (Unpublished document). SKE12064.

<20> TEMPLE 1(TEMPLE COMPLEX - TQ67SW6.1 - 6178 7247)FROM ARCH CANT (Photograph). SKE366.

<21> FROM TEMPLE 1 Types: ALTAR (Photograph). SKE563.

<22> GROUND VIEW OF SITE (TEMPLE COMPLEX - TQ67SW6.1 - 6178 7247) (Photograph). SKE562.

<23> PLAN OF SETTLEMENT,TEMPLES,ETC. FROM JRS/57 (1957) (Photograph). SKE278.

<24> TEMPLE 1(TEMPLE COMPLEX - TQ67SW6.1 - 6178 7247) (Photograph). SKE273.

<26> Oxford Archaeological Unit, 1996, Northfleet, Springhead: Post-Excavation Assessment and Research Design (Unpublished document). SKE12134.

<27> Oxford Archaeological Unit, 1999, Excavations At Springhead Roman Town, Southfleet (Unpublished document). SWX6932.

<28> Wessex Archaeology, 2001, Springhead Nursery Southfleet, Kent, Archaeological Evaluation. (Unpublished document). SKE12216.

<29> Wessex Archaeology, 1997, Archaeological Evaluation at Springhead (ARC SPH95), Gravesend, Kent, Environmental Statement Route Window 13, Interim Report. (Unpublished document). SKE12217.

<30> Wessex Archaeology, 1997, Archaeological Evaluation at Springhead (ARC SPH95/STP 97), Kent, Channel Tunnel Rail Link. Environmental Statement Route Window 13. Final Fieldwork Report. (Unpublished document). SKE12218.

<31> Wessex Archaeology, 2003, Channel Tunnel Rail Link Archaeological Works at Springhead, Kent: Park Corner Road, Pepperhill Café, Pepperhill Tunnel, South of the A2, West of Springhead Nursery (Unpublished document). SKE12265.

<33> Wessex Archaeology, 2004, Springhead Quarter Ebbsfleet, Kent: Archaeological Evaluation Report (Unpublished document). SKE12271.

<34> Malcolm Davies, 2001, "Death and Social Division at Roman Springhead" (Miscellaneous Material). SKE12272.

<35> Wessex Archaeology, 2003, Channel Tunnel Rail Link, Archaeological Works at Springhead Nursery (ARC SHN02) Interim Fieldwork Report (Unpublished document). SKE12274.

<36> Wessex Archaeology, 2004, Springhead Nursery, Southfleet : Interim Report on Archaeological Excavation and Watching Brief (Unpublished document). SKE12275.

<37> Wessex Archaeology, January 2004, Archaeological Works at Ebbsfleet Valley Civil Works and A2 connections - Roman Walled Cemetery Water-Pipe Trench Recording (Unpublished document). SWX12885.

<38> English Heritage, Register of Scheduled Monuments (Scheduling record). SKE16191.

<39> Oxford Wessex Archaeology Joint Venture, 2011, Settling the Ebbsfleet Valley. CTRL Excavations at Springhead and Northfleet, Kent. Volume 2: Late Iron Age to Roman Finds Reports (Monograph). SKE32435.

<40> 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.

<41> Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit, 1995, A Roman site at Springhead (Vagniacae) near Gravesend (Monograph). SWX6856.

<42> Lancaster University Archaeological Unit, 1999, MPP Quarrying Industry Step 3 (Revised) Introduction to site assessments (Unpublished document). SKE8243.

<43> Smith, V., 1997, The Roman road and Springhead Nurseries (Unpublished document). SWX6993.

<44> Wessex Archaeology, 2003, Channel Tunnel Rail Link Archaeological works at Springhead Roman Town (ARC SPH00): interim fieldwork report (Unpublished document). SKE31600.

<45> Smith, V., 1997, The Roman road and Springhead Nurseries (Unpublished document). SWX6993.