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Historic England Research Records

Monument Number 409588

Hob Uid: 409588
Location :
Kent
Sevenoaks
Otford
Grid Ref : TQ5362059220
Summary : Site of a Roman corridor and courtyard villa dating from the second half of 1st century to the 2nd century AD. Located above Otford Station and south of Pilgrims Way, it was excavated in 1927-8 and in 1971. The villa was shown to have been damaged by fire during the late 2nd century and the courtyard was subsequently used to house cattle. Coins and pottery dating from the 1st to the 4th centuries were however found in large quantities particularly pottery dated 3rd-4th century. Also found were tesserae and painted plaster. An associated pottery kiln of circa 100 AD and 2 flagons were unearthed and a rubbish pit was found to the north east of the villa. An Iron Age brooch was also found. The site is now under a well established orchard and there are no visible remains.
More information : TQ 5359 5927: Roman Villa [NR] (1)

Part of a Roman villa, consisting of a corridor about 8 feet wide, and 50 feet away a courtyard was excavated in 1927-8 by Pearce about 0.25 miles above Otford Station and south of Pilgrim's Way. [see plan AO/LP/63/108 (3)]. (2-3)

The corridor, with a rubbish pit to the north-east, and the courtyard were built in the second half of the 1st century and were in use in the 2nd century. The courtyard, with its cellar structure, was used as a cattle refuge after the house was burnt down in the late 2nd century. Coins found ranged from the 1st to the 4th century and pottery from the 1st to 4th centuries (mostly 3rd and 4th century). Other finds included a La Tene I-II fibula, tesserae and painted plaster. A Grimes type III pottery kiln, apparently abandoned circa 100 AD, was also excavated. [See plan.] (4-5)

This villa lies beneath a long established orchard and there is nothing to be seen. The majority of the finds are in Maidstone Museum but a selection, which includes 2 flagons from the kiln site, are in Sevenoaks Public Library and Museum. (6)

TQ 5362 5922: ROMAN VILLA [R] (site of) [NAT] (7)

The siting generally accepted by local archaeologists is that shown on the OS 25". (8)

Walling, rubble, plaster and pottery located by excavation at TQ 5362 5921 in April 1971. (9)

Roman villa, Otford, Kent. Scheduled No. 150. (10)

Additional bibliography. (11)
Sources :
Source Number : 1
Source :
Source details : 6" 1961
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :
Source Number : 2
Source :
Source details : BW Pearce, 1927
Page(s) : 153-8
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) : 39
Source Number : 11
Source :
Source details :
Page(s) : 84
Figs. : 17
Plates :
Vol(s) : 5
Source Number : 3
Source :
Source details : BW Pearce, 1930
Page(s) : 167-71
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) : 42
Source Number : 4
Source :
Source details : M V Taylor and R F Jessup
Page(s) : 122, 131
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) : 3
Source Number : 5
Source :
Source details : Y Cymmrodor (W F Grimes) 1930
Page(s) : 72
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) : 41
Source Number : 6
Source :
Source details : F1 CFW 11-AUG-1964
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :
Source Number : 7
Source :
Source details : 25" 1962
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :
Source Number : 8
Source :
Source details : F2 CFW 23-AUG-1965
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :
Source Number : 9
Source :
Source details : Letter (B Philp, 02-APR-1971, AO/O/7B
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :
Source Number : 10
Source :
Source details : DOE (IAM) AM Record Forms and plan 21-FEB-1973
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :
Monument Types:
Monument Period Name : Iron Age
Display Date : Iron Age
Monument End Date : 43
Monument Start Date : -800
Monument Type : Findspot
Evidence : Find
Monument Period Name : Roman
Display Date : Late C2 AD
Monument End Date : 200
Monument Start Date : 167
Monument Type : Cattle Shelter
Evidence : Sub Surface Deposit
Monument Period Name : Roman
Display Date : C1/C4 AD
Monument End Date : 400
Monument Start Date : 43
Monument Type : Villa, Courtyard, Rubbish Pit
Evidence : Sub Surface Deposit, Find
Monument Period Name : Roman
Display Date : Roman
Monument End Date : 200
Monument Start Date : 43
Monument Type : Pottery Kiln
Evidence : Sub Surface Deposit, Find
Components and Objects:
Period : Iron Age
Component Monument Type : Findspot
Object Type : BROOCH
Object Material :
Period : Roman
Component Monument Type : Villa, Courtyard, Rubbish Pit
Object Type : VESSEL, TESSERA, WALL PLASTER
Object Material : Pottery
Period : Roman
Component Monument Type : Pottery Kiln
Object Type : VESSEL
Object Material : Pottery
Related Records from other datasets:
External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : KE 150
External Cross Reference Notes :
External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : TQ 55 NW 3
External Cross Reference Notes :
Related Warden Records :
Related Activities :
Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1927-01-01
End Date : 1928-12-31
Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1964-08-11
End Date : 1964-08-11
Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1965-08-23
End Date : 1965-08-23
Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1971-01-01
End Date : 1971-12-31
Associated Activities :
Activity type : GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY
Start Date : 2015-01-01
End Date : 2015-12-31
Associated Activities :
Activity type : GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY
Start Date : 2016-01-01
End Date : 2016-12-31