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Fawkham and Ash Archaeological Group (FAAG)

The discovery and excavation of a Late Iron-Age and Early Roman Farmstead at
   Viewpoint, Wellfield, Hartley, Kent 1975/76 and 1984 TQ6084/6842

Site Diary

Site Diary – View Point, Wellfield, Hartley, Kent

Grid Ref: TQ 6084 6842

Site Owner: Dartford & District Council

Building Site Foreman: Mr Gordon Longhurst

Building Manager: Mr Hicks

Sunday 9th November 1975
Our member Brian Tremain found the neck and some wall sherds of a late 1st century Roman flagon at the bottom of a spoil heap, at the east end of the building site at Wellfield, Hartley.

Monday 10th November 1975
Brian Tremain and Ted Connell visited the site, where some council houses were under construction and spoke to the site foreman Mr Longhurst. Explained to him about the pottery and permission was granted for us to look round. Houses had been constructed and were occupied to the west of the old detached house called View Point, now being used as a site office with materials stored in a compound at the rear. To the east of the house (VP) the next phase of building was in progress. A road starting just 10 metres to the east ran approx 30-40m due east. During the construction of this road the south side had been terraced into the hillside approx one and a half metres. The face of this terrace was examined after clearing with a JCB and a ditch could be seen cutting into the chalk, running at an angle of about 45 degrees to the face. Immediately some fragments of pottery were recovered from the top section of the ditch. (Ditch A) (VP2)

Tuesday 11th November 1975
Ted Connell returned to site and excavated the first metre of Ditch A removing approx 15cm and recovering some sherds of pottery VP3. To the south of the road and running at almost parallel with it, a block of houses is to be constructed. A terrace will be cut first to take footings. Work is due to start on these in approx 4 – 6 weeks. A rescue excavation has been arranged for the next few weekends.

Sunday 16th November 1975
Weather: constant rain all day, overcast.
Excavation: The topsoil was removed using a JCB (approx 1 hr) from some 7? metres of Ditch A, working from edge of road terrace. A single bucket width hole was also cut through the line of the ditch nearer the house (VP). All tools etc were brought onto site. The polythene tent frame with the old polythene cover and tarpaulin was placed over the excavated area. Some pottery was recovered from the spoil during machining, from very black soil forming the top of the ditch fill. (VP7)

A 1 metre section through the ditch was started. Top 10-15 cm of ditch fill, very black, was removed, then 30cm of much lighter brown soil was removed. Pottery and oyster shell was recovered from both layers, VP4 and VP5. Beneath these the SW side of the fill was chalk rubble – to the NE was a fill of light brown soil with chalk lumps, indicating that the ditch had been re-cut at sometime. A 50cm baulk was left, and then to the NE another 1 metre was started. Again the top approx 20cm of black spoil was removed. Contained many sherds of pottery VP6

At the end of the day (4.30 p.m. very dark by this time) some 15 metres had been identified. The polythene tent frame was left against the compound wall and all tools and tarpaulin removed from site.

Sunday 23rd November 1975
Weather: fine in morning, becoming overcast later. No rain.
Excavation: Polythene tent and new cover with "bell" end was erected. All tools had been stored in a hut in the builders’ compound beside the house View Point. A JCB was again employed for one hour. The cut across the ditch, Ditch A, near the house (VP) was widened. The terraced face of the road was cleaned back to the east and at least two more small ditches identified. The 1 metre sections across Ditch A were continued. To the SW end Anthony C completed excavation and discovered that there had been an original "V" shaped ditch with a flat bottom (now known as Ditch B). This had then been filled in. Then another very flat "U" shaped ditch was dug just slightly to the SE. This bottom "V" known as VP8 contained some small sherds. The SW section (Section1) was drawn by Pam C and John M. Leaving ½ metre baulk to the NE, Brian T continued excavation of his cut, and found the same ditches. After a further ½ metre baulk Graham B and Charlie C excavated another 1m cut and identified the same ditches. Another ½ m baulk and John and Mark M with Alan R later started excavation of black deposit (VP11).

Further work with the JCB cleaning the face of the road terrace to the east revealed some more ditches. Ditch C that emerged from the terrace just 2m east of Ditch A, then curved back into the terrace section approx 11m to the east where it intersects with another Ditch D. Tim Goss excavated the bottom 30cm of Ditch C for approx 1 m (VP15). Graham B and Michael D cut sections through Ditches C and D just west of their intersection. Nothing from Ditch D, some bone and one rim from Ditch C (VP16). At the west end of the site near the House (VP), the 1m cut through Ditches A and B was widened, with the JCB taking off the topsoil. Tony C and Chris P then began removing rest of ditch fill. They located south edge of Ditch A. No finds.

Sunday 30th November 1975
Weather: freezing fog all day – visibility 50m. Sodden underfoot from continuous rain during week.
Excavation: John and Mark M continued excavation of cut across Ditches A and B from 7m to 8½ m from kerb. Same layers as other cuts to the SW. VP 17 brown loam Ditch A and VP18 chalk rubble fill of Ditch B. David D. commenced excavation of ½m baulk 11½m to 12m from kerb to SW. Black layer of Ditch A, VP4. David D also completed excavation of Ditch B in Brian T’s cut 10 ½ m to 11 ½m from kerb. Graham B examined feature/ditch? exposed in side of service trench just west of corner of road. Using JCB spoil and topsoil was removed. In the very edge of the ditch (Ditch E) exposed was a possible post hole. A column of flints in dark brown soil was exposed. This was removed and the section cut back approx 1 m. Some pottery and bone was found VP19. The JCB also cleared more of Ditch C to the SW. Approx 15m of trench was dug by the JCB to the NE of the building footings down the hill (to the north of the road) to try to locate Ditch A or B running across the field. Chalk was not seen, just brickearth with small flints to a depth of 0.75m. Trench was backfilled by machine. Alan R cleaned back edge of Ditch C as it ran NE to the kerb edge. Ted and Pam C commenced plan of site, scale 1:100 and plotted ditches and sections.

Sunday 7th December 1975
Weather: Dry all day, overcast, light poor.
Excavation: outline of block of houses was laid out on ground in orange tape. JCB (2 ½ hrs) machined off topsoil from area covering Ditch A approx 8m between sections near terrace edge and trial hole nearer House (VP), where possible leaving a slight cover of plough soil over ditch fill. This area was then stripped back to the south by approx 4m at the eastern end. Ditch C was further revealed running parallel with Ditch A then curving to the south. This in turn was followed until the limit of the house block proposed excavation. A total of 22?m of Ditch A has now been exposed and approx 32m of Ditch C. Three members of the Dartford and District Arch Group and 8 members of the SE London Arch Group gave assistance.

The newly exposed section of Ditch A was cleaned back and strung out for cuts through the ditch to be made. All pottery etc was labelled VP20. At 13.5m to 15m John Clark and Charlie C began removing top 10cm of ditch fill. To the SW Ben M and Albert S began to expose the ditch fill, but instead of black loam a layer of brown clay was revealed 15.5 to 17m. In the centre of this clay was a mass of Roman tile, (parts of Tegula). Again to the SW, 17.5 to 19m Leslie K and Ian P began to reveal the upper filling of the ditch. Here the top fill was again black loam as in the rest of the ditch to the NE. Tim G began removing ½m baulk between 8.5 to 9m in Ditch A. Judith S assisted by Michael D removed ½m baulk between 11.5 m to 12m. Layers were numbered as adjacent sections.

Ted and Sue Conway began cleaning down SW section face of trial hole near House (VP) at 22m. John and Mark M and Dan and Elvin J began cleaning back the top and revealing Ditch C starting from the SW and working down towards the road. Much pottery was found and all labelled VP24 unstrat. At approx 15m from the kerb a rectangular cut through Ditch C was exposed, the top containing very modern building material. This feature cuts the ditch on the north side. Stewart M and Ted Connell helped and supervised the work.


Sunday 14th December 1975
Weather: dry and bright sunlight, but frozen solid underfoot.
Excavation: Ditch A/B and Hearth. With the discovery in the top of the ditch fill of a mass of clay and broken tile, the sections through the ditches started last week were discontinued and Ted Conway, Charlie Capes and Roger Cockett tried to find the limits of the clay intrusion in Ditch A/B. On the north side Charlie began to expose the north edge of the ditch and in removing the disturbed plough soil discovered a Roman coin just above the chalk. The coin was plotted as 9.35m south of the road edge and 0.30m east of grid line D. The clay area was examined and the top rubble of the hearth, broken tile, some flat flints, a piece of greensand and part of a quern? was removed after recording and photographing. Lower, two shattered (by the heat) Roman tegulae face down side by side were exposed forming the base of the hearth (VP25).

1 ½ m cuts through Ditch C were started. Albert Smith removing cut 1m – 2 ½ m from south edge of excavation (VP26). John Clark removed cut of Ditch C 3m – 4½ m (VP27). Graham Budd started cut through Ditch C 5m – 6 ½m (VP28) John and Mark Manley started renewing cut through Ditch E 13 ½m – 14 ½m now modern pit (VP29). Ditch C seems to have three general layers, a top fill of very dark soil, almost black with many, many flints, a layer beneath of dark brown clay/loam some flints and chalk specks. The bottom fill of Ditch C seems to consist mostly of chalk lumps.

Sunday 21st December 1975
Weather: dry, overcast all day.
Excavation: Anthony C cleaned down face of section through Ditches A and B at 9m from kerb. Then with Pam C drew it (Section No. 2). Graham Budd completed cut through Ditch C at 5 – 6 ½m. Then Pam and Tony drew the section to the south at 5m (Section No. 3). Albert Smith and John Clark continued excavating their 1 ½m sections at 1m – 2 ½m and 3m – 4 ½m. Roger Hetherington continued excavation of 1m section at 13 ½m – 14 ½m (VP29). John and Mark Manley opened up a fresh section of Ditch C at 7m – 9m (VP30). Graham Budd then continued excavation of section across Ditch A and B at 13 ½ - 15m started on 7/12/75 (VP21). Charlie Capes continued work on the SW side of the hearth in Ditch A and B. The SW ¼ segment of the hearth was begun to be excavated the clay some ? cm thick with a layer of ashey soil beneath VP33. Alan Rush removed baulk in Ditch A and B at 11 ½ m – 12m layers as to the SW. Mike Davies laid out fresh section across Ditch A and B at 19 ½m – 21m. Brian Tremain came and took some B and W photos for press releases.

Sunday 28th December 1975
Weather: dry but overcast all day
Excavation: Corrine and Dai removed baulk in Ditch C at 4 ½ - 5 m. Layers as section to South. Alan R continued excavation of section of Ditch C at 9 ½ - 11 ½ m removing brown fill (VP40). David P and Sue C completed excavation of section across Ditch C at 13 ½ - 14 ½ m, brown fill being (VP36). Stewart M and George H excavated 1½ m section across junction of Ditches C and D at the kerb line (VP16). Ditch D seems to be very shallow almost a natural depression. Ditch C continues to the north. Albert S removed baulk at 2 ½ m- 3m in Ditch C (VP26 and VP35). Mike D and later Judith and Ben removed top of baulk in Ditch A + B at 8 ½ - 9 m. Graham B continued excavation of section of Ditch A + B at 13 ½ - 15 m, lower fill of Ditch B (VP38). Charlie C and Ted Conway and later Brian Tremain continued excavation of ¼ segment of hearth at 16 ½ m - ??m in Ditch A + B. Considerable layer of ash. Discovery of end of Ditch A [WHERE?] Remaining section of Ditch B to the SW 19m – 21m was quickly reduced by Albert S, Bob M, David P, Chris B, Steve M, Ken W.

Sunday 4th January 1976
Weather: overcast – drizzle in morning, heavy rain all afternoon. Polythene tent used.
Excavation: Albert Smith cleaned section face at 1m from south face of excavation of Ditch C. John Clark continued excavation of Ditch C at 9 ½ - 11 ½ m (VP40). Graham Budd started removing baulk 13 – 13 ½ m across Ditch A + B layers as VP4 and VP5. Ted Conway and Charlie Capes completed excavation of section through Hearth and Ditch A+B at 16 ½ - 18m, lower fill of ditch (VP41). Roger Cockett and Pam Connell drew section through hearth at 16 ½ m, Section no 4. It is now obvious that the end of Ditch A seems to cut through an earlier pit. Charlie Capes began to cut a section along the line of the centre of Ditch B, the north portion being removed so that we may see if this pit (F) shows running to the NE. Top fill of Ditch B VP45.

Sunday 11th January 1976
Weather: overcast – sunny intervals
Excavation: Albert S and Wilfred T completed section NE – SW through hearth along Ditch A+B (started by Charlie C). Dark brown fill of Ditch B visible to the bottom. No sign of possible pit F in section. Graham B completed removing baulk at 13 – 13 ½ m Ditch A+B. Graham B dug a trial hole across the line of Ditch C ?? -??m north of kerb line. No finds. Barbara T and Susan F started a further section through Ditch C at ?? - ?? m. They removed the top dark brown loam. Trevor and Stephen B continued with this after dinner. Tony C and Eric A excavated the baulk at 9 – 9 ½ m on Ditch C. John and Mark M cleaned section face of Ditch C 1m north from edge of excavation. This was drawn by Pam C and John M - Section no ?. Pam C and John M drew section through Ditch B at 19 – 19½ m. Section ? .Tony C then removed the baulk 19 – 19 ½ m. Barbara T and Brian T examined area of intersection? of Ditch C and D on kerb line. Roger Cockett directed and supervised work carried out.

Sunday 18th January 1976
Weather: overcast, cold and windy but dry.
Excavation: Albert S and Anthony C and Wilfred T took back section through Pit F and Ditch A (E-W) 30 cm until fill of Pit F was revealed. A section was drawn by Anthony C and John M. The entire fill of Pit F and Ditch A was then removed. Mike Davis excavated remaining 1m fill of Ditch C at extreme south end of Ditch C. John and Mark M and Graham B excavated 1m of Ditch G in face of excavation west of Block 9. Then John M and Pam C drew the section (8). Excavation then continued towards the fence (west). John G and Barry W projected the line of Ditches A and B north westwards to Block 8 and searched along terrace for signs of the ditches, but were unsuccessful. They then continued the excavation of the lower part of Ditch C at VP15. All other diggers concentrated on excavating the remaining section of Ditch C at 15 ½ - 20 m.

Sunday 25th January 1976
Weather: overcast, flurries of snow, really freezing wind.
Excavation: During the week, the area containing Ditches A, B and C had been filled in and terraced ready for the footing trenches of Block 10. Using the JCB a trench was cut down to the chalk, 1m from the east wall of the garage of View Point. There appeared to be a continuation of Ditch B visible. Paul West and Ricky and later Graham tried to define the edges but were not particularly successful. Also during the week, the footing walls of Block 9 had been completed and the interior filled with rubble prior to cementing. A trench for services had been cut on the north, east and south sides. On the north side, Ditch G could be seen in the south side of the trench, but not in the north side. Towards the east Ditch J could be seen running at an acute angle towards Block 7. Ray and Penny Edwards and Bill and Doll Lovegrove in the morning and later Don and Sara Bishop excavated the fill of Ditch J at various places where it cut the trench (VP50) on the west side of Block 9. David York and Graham Budd excavated Ditch G back to the fence (VP46). On the south side of Block 9, Ditch J could be seen in the face of the excavation. Paul and Ricky excavated ½ m of this but no datable finds were recovered (VP52). In the west side of the service trench to the east of Block 9 a bee-hive shaped pit was exposed. John and Mark Manley worked on this, but when it was realised that it went back some way the topsoil was removed by the JCB. In the afternoon everybody helped with excavation and sorting of this Pit (H). The upper 50cm of black loam was full of pottery. Work continued until dusk, but much remained to be done. (VP 51, 53, 54, 55). The JCB was employed for 1 ½ hours during the morning and apart from those tasks already mentioned, it also cut a trench to sub-soil, a chalky/clay wash, to the north of Block 8 in the hope of finding a continuation of Ditch A+B..

Tuesday 27th January 1976
Weather: overcast and cold.
Excavation: Pam and Ted came for the afternoon and completed excavation of half of Pit H and drew the section. The hole was filled in later to allow building work to continue.

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Sunday 22nd July 1984 – Roger Cockett
The site of the house named View Point is now to be developed for housing and foundation trenches had been excavated and filled with concrete, at the north and south ends of the rectangular plot which had formed the garden.
EPC obtained permission from the builders for a limited excavation of ground not covered by the trenches.
Field workers on Sun 22nd July 1984: Sara Bishop, Charlie Capes, Roger Cockett, Ted Connell, Gerald Cramp, Gill Cramp, Chris Frew, Mike Jesson, Dick Jones, Neville Jones, Jim Smith, Gary Woodell.
Excavations were located by reference to housing blocks to the east and west (see diagram). Pegs Y and Z and nail X were fixed in plan.
The builders’ trenches had cut through a ditch near the northern edge of the plot and 4 trial trenches were dug to recover as much of the plan and content as might be possible (Boxes A to D). The same set of foundations had also cut through what appeared to be a pit, on their south side, i.e. towards the centre of the plot; this was emptied and sectioned (Pit K).
All backfilling was completed the same day.

Box A
SB, DJ (am), NJ (am), GW (pm), (plan opposite)
A V-ditch cut into solid chalk was revealed; depth 0m800 below base of topsoil; flat bottom 0m300 wide. Lower filling of ditch was 0m250 deep and consisted of chalk lumps with a small quantity of loam. No finds. Upper filling was 0m550 deep and of light brown loam with occasional chalk lumps and specks. Finds from this layer (VP60) were pottery, (mainly hard white bodied), bone (butchered), one pot-boiler and I snail shell.

Box B
EPC, NJ (pm) (plan opposite)
The northern edge of the ditch, cut into solid chalk was revealed but time did not permit to excavate it completely. The southern edge must lie under the concrete foundation.
Ditch filling below topsoil was a rich brown loam with occasional chalk lumps. Pottery from this layer (VP61) (mainly hard, white bodied ware and a grey bodied, orange surfaced Patchgrove type ware), oyster and snail shell.

Box C
MJ, GW (am), CC (pm). (plan opposite)
Most of the cross section of a V-ditch, cut into solid chalk, was revealed but the southern edge was concealed under the concrete foundation. There was a slight shelf formed on the southern face. Overall depth was 0m850 below base of topsoil. Lower filling was 0m300 deep and consisted of chalk lumps and a little loam. No finds.
Upper filling was 0m550 deep and was of brown loam and chalk lumps. Finds from this layer (VP62) were pottery (thick crumbly buff gritty ware, grey cored orange surfaced Patchgrove ware, hard brown and grey sandy wares), bone, oyster and snail shell.

Box D
CF, RC (am), GC. (plan opposite)
The eastern half of this box encountered a modern service trench along its length. The western half revealed the V-ditch, cut into solid chalk, with a shelf (perhaps a secondary ditch) cut into its south face.
Depth of main ditch below base of topsoil was 0m900 and of secondary ditch, 0m380.
Lower filling of main ditch was 0m420 deep and consisted of chalk rubble with a little loam.
Upper filling of main ditch was of brown loam with numerous chalk lumps, 0m480 deep and running into recut to the south. However the secondary ditch appeared later. The whole layer is (VP63). A few sherds of black gritty, black/orange shelly and hard white pottery, 1 tile fragment and one flint flake.

Box E - Pit K
JS, GiC, GC (pm), SB (pm), CC (pm), (plan and section opposite)
The topsoil was removed from the chalk in this area and revealed the plan of a circular pit, cut in half (apparently) by the concrete foundation.
The eastern half was removed first and proved the feature to be a steep sided, flat bottomed pit of depth 0m940 beneath the base of the topsoil.
The filling at the lowest level was chalk rubble at 0m220 depth at centre. No finds.
The filling above this was a series of intersecting brown clays and fine powdery black soils, all classed as (VP64), total depth 0m720.
Finds from the upper layers were numerous; pottery sherds (assorted black/brown shelly wares, hard red/grey wares with cream slip, hard brown/grey/black sandy wares, 1 Samian vessel (frag), hard white gritty ware), red fired clay, brown unfired clay, iron hasp and nails, well preserved bone, burnt bone, oyster and whelk shells.
NOTE: Some further measurements were taken on 29th July 1984 by RC and SB.


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15th August 1984 Note from Alan Rush
The builders on the Romano-British site in Caxton Close had dug a pipe trench N to S along the side of the houses and 3 major and 2 minor Roman ditches could be seen cut into the chalk. See diagram.

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