More information : TQ 5538 6737: ROMAN BUILDING [R] (site of) [NAT] (1)
Roman building at Franks: type unidentified. Bulldozer revealed roughly square area of side approximately 25 yards comprising great quantities of brick, tile, imbrex tiles, mortar, pottery and part of a Roman horseshoe. Building lies close to the old course of the River Darent which has cut through it: exact extent unknown. (2)
TQ 5541 6742: Site at present under excavation. Exposed are flint rubble foundations. Also in situ box-flue tiles, round drainage tiles, masses of roof tiles and a floor of broken tile and cement. The site is marked by a low mound on the west bank of the Darent. (3)
Excavation in 1960 and 1961 by the Darent Valley Archaeological Research Group under J Ritson revealed a villa continuously occupied from the second half of the 1st century AD to the end of the 4th century, the building ceasing to be used early in the 5th century. A Belgic occupation was revealed by much native pottery and three native tin coins were associated with this. House consisted of two parallel ranges of rooms with small apartments projecting on either side of the main entrance protected by an open verandah. One room had a hypocaust, another an opus signinum floor. (4-5)
Excavations filled in and site levelled. Finds in Dartford Museum: full report to be published in Arch Cant. (See also TQ 56 NE 26). (6)
TQ 555 675: Franks Roman Villa. An area about 100 metres east of the villa revealed boundary ditches and pits containing domestic rubbish of 3rd century date. A Roman tiled oven was also recorded. The exact position of the villa house was located by trial excavation on the west bank of the river and its overall limits defined. (7)
Early in 1976 planning permission was given for gravel to be extracted in the area of the villa, to supply the adjacent M20 construction work. The site was scheduled and the main villa house saved from destruction, however the areas to the north and west of the villa were to be destroyed. As a result, rescue excavations took place by the KARU which revealed an extensive area of Roman metalling sealing a filled-in water channel, a series of post holes relating to the water channel and the footings of a flint boundary wall. The finds included over 100 4th century AD coins, pottery and many small finds. (8)
Additional bibliography. (9-11)
KE 30 Listed as the site of a Roman villa. (12) |