The above map shows the approximate distribution of archaeological finds throughout Sittingbourne. All of the map locations and details below are from the Pastscape website. Please click on the links below to view the original entries in the National Monuments Record.
Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light Railway: A narrow gauge mineral railway laid by the Bowater Paper Company in 1906 to connect their mills at Sittingbou...
Anglo-saxon jewelled ornament, possibly a baldric fastener, found in Milton-next-Sittingbourne. It comprises garnet and sapphire settings in a gold ce...
Fourth century glass bowl found with an Anglo Saxon inhumation at Milton-next-Sittingbourne. The find is now in the British Museum, accession number 1...
Originally an early aisled house which underwent considerable modifications later in the Middle Ages. There is a later partially surviving upper end c...
Excavations uncovered Roman pottery and fragments of Roman roof and flue tiles indicating the site of a Roman building, possibly the villa under the c...
Site of a medieval moated and fortified manor house, 13th-14th century in date. Finds recovered from excavations include Roman pottery and Mesolithic ...
Roman burials and Anglo-Saxon inhumation cemetery found at Huggins Fields, (Fair Meadows), in 1824. It is possible that Buckelurnen had been found at ...
The site of a demolished two storey house, possibly of 15th century manorial origins: there may however have been a manor house on the site in the 12t...
A Roman walled cemetery was found in 1879 during brickearth digging. A lead coffin containing a child's burial was found and two gold armillae, a ring...
Neolithic unenclosed settlement, excavations have revealed hollows and finds of pottery, flint working debris, stone axes, animal remains and arrowhea...
A possible Roman villa may be located under the Holy Trinity Church. When the churchyard was extended in the late 19th century building foundations w...
A 5th or 6th century Anglo-Saxon inhumation cemetery found in a brickfield to the north east of Milton. Grave goods included glass vessels, finger rin...
A logboat was found in 1924 at Murston Marshes and thought to have been burned or hewn out of an oak trunk. It was not dated, although a Neolithic axe...
A Roman lead coffin burial containing a skeleton and two or three fragments of glass bottles was found in Eleven Acres Field, Murston. A bronze handl...
Late Saxon scramasax found in 1872 during construction of a house near the Daily Chronicle Paper Mills in Sittingbourne. It is inscribed and inlaid wi...
Late 6th and 7th century Saxon inhumation cemetery and grave goods found at the Rondeau estate in 1869, 1879-80 and 1927. Finds included a sword, spea...
A Roman cemetery consisting of inhumations and cremations of 1st to 3rd century date was found at Bayford. Possible hut sites or funeral pyres also pr...
A Roman burial ground was found in 1828. Cinerary urns and four bronze brooches were found along with a skeleton indicating a mixed cremation and inhu...
A Roman cemetery consisting of two inurned cremations was found in 1865 during brickearth operations on Fulston Farm. Other vessels were found but wer...
Roman cremation cemetery found in 1924 a few hundred yards north of Mere Court, Muston, on brickearth excavations. Amongst the finds were large quanti...
A pit containing potsherds described as being of the "Halstatt period" was found during brickearth extraction some time prior to 1932. The sherds, som...
Fragments of a 6th century Anglo Saxon glass claw beaker, found at Bexhill Marsh, Sittingbourne, now in the British Museum, possibly indicate an inhum...
A Roman inhumation cemetery with a lead coffin and pottery of 3rd to 4th century date was found in 1934 during blasting operations in a chalk quarry a...
There is evidence that the church at Milton Regis was a minster in the late Saxon period. The Kent Domesday Monachorum refers to the church and its de...
A small hospital and chapel was built by one Samuel for lodging poor people, at `Shamele', in the reign of King John. After his death it fell down, bu...
A chapel was built by travellers and was granted by Henry III to one Silvester, a chaplain, who lived there for 16 years, from circa 1256, caring for ...
Milton (Regis) Union Workhouse was built around 1835. The architect was Mr Bland, who based his courtyard design on that of Sir Francis Head. In 1874 ...
Church, 13th century and later. Restored in the C18th and C19th but still retains some early work. Built of knapped flint patched with ragstone. Aisle...
The Odeon cinema opened in 1937 and was designed by FC Mitchell. However it is probable that the cinema was originally designed in 1934 for A E Abrah...
Originally a much larger medieval inn of which two timber-framed wings remain at the rear. The front range was rebuilt late 18th century. After 1835 t...
Two-storey building with three ranges of a 15th century building. The three ranges are spanned by crown-post roofs and the building was probably gabl...
Surface finds of Roman tesserae, roof and flue tiles, 2nd-3rd century pottery indicate the site of a Roman building, possibly a villa. Testing by au...
Nave and chancel with south aisle to both and crenellated West tower with flint and stone buttresses. South porch. 15th century windows and 14th centu...
Two Roman or Anglo Saxon glass bangles found during the late 19th century in a field near Milton Regis Church. The finds are in the Royal Museum, Cant...
A smock mill built in the late 18th-early 19th century. The mill was built of brick and weatherboarding and had a steam engine installed in 1889 as a...
18th century front to a probable timber framed building. Two storey building formerly the Crown Inn. Built of brick with a tile roof. Adjoining on the...
A timber framed building constructed c1450. This was the Mediaeval Court Hall of Milton with 2 prison cells beneath. It was also used as a school when...
Formerly the George Inn. A painted brick building of 2 storeys with tiled roof and wooden eaves cornice. Eighteenth century front. There are 6 sashes ...
Wealden house with formerly open 2-bay hall. The upper end has been substantially rebuilt and the lower end is 18th century. A rear wing was added beh...
A 12th century chapel of ease rebuilt between 1873 and 1874 using the architect William Burges. The chapel is in Early Gothic style and built of knap...
The foundations of a large building were exposed near edge of the marsh running eastwards into the enclosure of the Murston Sewage Works, beneath whic...
A mid 19th century house of three storeys. The ground and first floors are of red brick but a second storey in yellow brick was added later. The hip...
Leper hospital in Swainestrey for which protection was granted in 1232. It was apparently united to Holy Cross hospital, Swainestrey before 1379 as it...
Hospital for the poor in Swainestrey founded in the 12th century by a member of the Murston family. Probably
ceased in 1379 when the possessions passe...
Extract from 'Researches and Discoveries in Kent' in Archaeologia Cantiana, Vol. XCI (Ashford; Kent Archaeological Society, 1976)p.194
Sittingbourne - The base of a medieval mortar was found in the autumn of 1974 at a building site. it is almost certainly of Purbeck marble, ... the mortar is nine-sided ... Dunning's type 1. Of three Purbeck marble mortars of this type excavated at Northolt Manor two were dated to c. AD 1300 adn a third to AD 1250-1350.
Extract from 'Iron Age Coinage in Kent: A Review of Current Knowledge' in Archaeologia Cantiana, Vol. CXX (Gloucestershire; Kent Archaeological Society, 2000)p.217
"... the only certain Claudian coin deposit from Kent is the Bredgar hoard containing a number of aurei and dated to AD 43."
Extract from 'Kent's Causewayd Enclosures and the Early Neolithic in the Region' in Archaeologia Cantiana, Vol. CXXVII (Gloucestershire; Kent Archaeological Society, 2007)p.378
" ... a crude log boat dating to the Neolithic was discovered in mouth of Milton Creek on the south bank of the Swale in 1959 (NMR Ref: TQ 96 NW 12)."
A film by Kent TV documenting the archaeological dig at The Meads, Sittingbourne, the Anglo-Saxon finds, and the ensuing conservation project.
Romano Lead Coffin
There have only been approximately 300 Romano-British lead coffins excavated to date in the UK, Milton having eight documented in one cemetery. The number of coffins found, combined with the expense involved in having one made at the time, their elaborate decoration and the vessels and artefacts found with the burials, all suggest that Milton was home to, or close to, a high status Romano-British community.
The coffin was excavated in the 1870s, and was described in detail in an article in Archaeologia Cantiana, in 1874 by George Payne,
“In February, 1869, Mr. Roach Smith communicated to the ‘Gentleman’s Magazine’ the discovery of a third coffin at Bex Hill. This was presented by Mr. Alfred Jordan, the owner of the field, to the Maidstone Museum, where it may now be seen. In length, it measures six feet and five inches; while in breadth, it is two feet and ten inches. One sheet of lead formed the bottom and two sides, but for the two ends separate pieces were welded on. The edges of the lid were so turned down, as to overlap the coffin on all sides. The ornamentation upon the leaden headpiece ... Similar combinations of medallions and mouldings covered the lid, the sides, and the ends. The raised mouldings are, uniformly, composed of alternate narrow rings and long beads. Each long bead is thicker in the middle than at its extremities, both of which are invariably capped by one of the narrow rings. By means of this moulding,* the lid is divided into several rectangular compartments, within each of which it is again used in the shape of an X. Every one of the triangular spaces, thus formed within the rectangular divisions of the lid, contains a medallion of Medusa’s head, as shewn ... Within this coffin, lying upon the left shoulder, there was a long, slender phial, 5 3/4 inches in height. Outside the coffin, there was a glass vessel of peculiar form (see Fig. 2). It is 8 1/2 inches high, and has two broad handles, one on each side of its neck, which is two inches long and one inch in diameter. The body of this glass vessel is 6 1/2 inches high, and of four inches diameter throughout. Upon the bottom are stamped, in bold relief, the letters I BONI.
- Payne, G., ‘Roman Coffins, of Lead, from Bex Hill, Milton-next-Sittingbourne’ in Archaeologia Cantiana; Volume IX (London; Mitchell & Hughes, 1874) pp.164-168.
The following items all appeared on Ebay in February 2010, and were cited as having been found in Sittingbourne. The titles and descriptions are copied directly from the seller's (Timeline Originals) descriptions.
Viking Scrolled Bronze Penannular Brooch Copper-alloy, 6.90 grams, 38.96 mm. 9th-12th century AD. A small penannular brooch made from a round-section band with scrolled terminals and a long, narrow pin with scrolled attachment to the band. Reference: Lehtosalo-Hilander, P-L.,Luistari (Finland), A History of Weapons and Ornaments, Helsinki, 2000, p.203 and pl.233. Very fine condition. Provenance: found Sittingbourne, Kent, England. Source: Internet
Medieval Beehive Bronze Thimble Copper-alloy, 7.94 grams, 19.36 mm. Circa 1350-1450 AD. A sturdy example of the standard 'beehive' thimble with descending rows of punched points on the outer surface to provide grip. Reference: Bailey, G. Detector Finds 2, p.12-13, no. 5. Fine condition, some deformation to lower edge. Provenance: found near Sittingbourne, Kent, England.
Medieval Beehive Bronze Thimble Copper-alloy, 3.41 grams, 14.54 mm. Circa 1350-1450 AD. A delicate example of the standard 'beehive' thimble cast in thin copper-alloy and provided with columns of punched points on the side wall and converging triangles of the same on the upper surface. The base is plain apart from an incised border. Reference: Bailey, G. Detector Finds 2, p.12-13, no. 1. Very fine condition, some nibbling to rim. Provenance: found near Sittingbourne, Kent, England.
Medieval Foliate Bronze Mirror Case Lid Trefoil Copper-alloy, 23.83 grams, 40.86 mm. A medieval mirror-case lid cast with a recess in the lower face, and the hinge-lug at the rear. The raised design consists of a central pentagon with three-lobed extension; around this is a continuous scalloped band of lobes and trefoils. Reference: cf. mirror-cases in Egan, G. & Pritchard, F. Dress Accessories 1150-1450, Woodbridge, 2002 p.362 item 1715. Good very fine condition. Provenance: found near Sittingbourne, Kent, England.
Tudor St George Dragoon Figural Pipe Tamper Copper-alloy, 15.02 grams, 61.89 mm. 16th century AD. A cast openwork bifacial pipe tamper in the form of an armoured knight driving the tip of his spear into the gaping mouth of a dragon while he stands on the monster's body. Beneath the supine dragon's spine is an expanding rod with a small collar at its base, by which it was attached. The armour shown includes an open-face helmet, segmented pauldrons and a fauld or laminated 'skirt', suggesting a 16th century date. Dragon-slaying figures in mediaeval tradition are usually Saint George or Saint Michael, the former being more popular in England as the patron saint. Reference: cf. terminal knops in Read, B. Metal Artefacts of Antiquity, Langport, 2001, p.97 items 721-3. Very fine condition. Provenance: found Sittingbourne, Kent, England.
Medieval Three Crowns Strap End / Belt Chape Copper-alloy, 24.77 grams, 69.54 mm. 13th-14th century AD. A cast socketed belt-chape or strap end comprising a rectangular socket and sub-triangular finial. The socket carries incised scaphoid decoration and a transverse collar. The finial consists of three dished circles each with a crown motif reserved against a pecked background; below this is a lobed trefoil with leaf detailing. An additional leaf detail connects the right dished feature with the one below; there are traces of a similar feature on the left, lost in antiquity. Reference: London Museum Medieval Catalogue 1940, reprinted Ipswich, 1993, p.264ff. Very fine condition. Provenance: found Sittingbourne, Kent.
The following items all appeared on Ebay in December 2010, and were cited as having been found in Sittingbourne. The titles and descriptions are copied directly from the seller's (Timeline Originals) descriptions.
MEDIEVAL 'SPREAD HERALDIC EAGLE' COIN WEIGHT
Lead, 6.24 grams, 17.26 mm. Circa16th century AD. A square lead seal, slightly convex, bearing on the upper face a circular raised border enclosing a heraldic eagle, its head turned to its right and wings splayed. Reference: cf. for the type Pateman, B. Collecting Seals London, 2008 no.SS8. Very fine condition. Provenance: found Sittingbourne, Kent, England.
MEDIEVAL 'FLORAL' VESICA-SHAPED SEAL MATRIX
Lead, 10.12 grams, 28.93 mm. 13th-15th century AD. A vesica-shaped seal with a central design consisting of radiating petals. The epigraphic border bears a short text beginning with S' (the standard abbreviation for sigillum 'seal') but otherwise illegible. The suspension loop was lost in antiquity. Reference: Pateman, B. Collecting Seals London, 2008. Fine condition. Provenance: found Sittingbourne, Kent, England.
Boden, Damien C., 'A Late Iron-Age / Early Roman Site at Bredgar, Near Sittingbourne' in Archaeologia Cantiana, Vol. CXXVI (Gloucestershire; Kent Archaeological Society, 2006)p.345
Dodd's Transport, Bonham Drive, Sittingbourne (TR 9163 6466) in Archaeologia Cantiana, Vol. CXXVII (Gloucestershire; Kent Archaeological Society, 2007)p.330
Remains of a clamp-kiln fo type used to fire bricks. Appears to be one of the last clamp kilns in the area before those fo a more permanent type introduced. Earliest use possibly mid eighteenth century.
In Archaeologia Cantiana, Vol. CCCII (Gloucestershire; Kent Archaeological Society, 2002)p.357
Evidence for late Iron Age and Roman occupation. The site lies just north of the London to Canterbury Roman road and adjacent to Milton Creek, thus benefiting from two major transport links.
Coles, S, Hammond, S, Pine, J, Preston, S, and Taylor, A, Bronze Age, Roman and Saxon sites on Shrubsoles Hill, Sheppey and at Wises Lane, Borden, Kent - Report by TVAS Available to order from them directly or view in the HRGS Library.
Castle Road, Sittingbourne - Interim Report by Canterbury Archaeological Trust
In Archaeologia Cantiana, Vol. CXXV (Gloucestershire; Kent Archaeological Society, 2005)p.269
Eastern side of Milton Creek - ditches belonging to two Late Iron Age / Early Roman Enclosures.
Wises Lane, Sittingbourne (from Boden, Damien C., 'A Late Iron-Age / Early Roman Site at Bredgar, Near Sittingbourne' in Archaeologia Cantiana, Vol. CXXVI (Gloucestershire; Kent Archaeological Society, 2006)p.346)
"Excavation in advance of a housing development at Wises Lane, Borden (TQ 8870 6370), which lies some 3km north of Bredgar revealed three phases of field system and a small cremation cemetery, both dating to the first century AD. Little evidence for domestic occupation was found although a settlement spanning the decades either side of the Roman conquest must lie nearby (Hammon et al. 2003)"
Conservation Areas and their Appraisals by Swale Borough Council Contains the places:- Borden - Chestnut Street, Borden- The Street, Borden - Harman's Corner, Borden - Hearts Delight, Boughton Church, Boughton Street, Bredgar, Cellar Hill and Greenstreet, Doddington and Newnham, Eastling, Faversham, Goodnestone, Graveney Church, Graveney Bridge, Hartlip, Hernhill, Hernhill - Dargate, Hernhill - Fostall, Kingsdown, Lewson Street, Lower Halstow, Lynsted - Bogle, Lynsted - The Street, Milstead, Milton Regis - High Street, Newington Church, Newington - High Street, Newington Manor, Ospringe, Painter's Forstal, Preston Next Faversham, Queenborough, Rodmersham Green, Selling*, Selling - Shepherd's Hill, Sheerness - Dockyard, Sheerness- Marine Town, Sheerness - Mile Town, Sheldwich, South Street, Stalisfield Green, Staplestreet, Syndale, Throwley Forstal, Tonge, Tunstall, Upchurch, Whitehill.
Ufton Lane School (0) This is the only photo that I have seen of the interior of my first school, Ufton Lane. I think that I have identified my father`s youngest brother, who must have died soon after the photo was taken. I recently visited the school and was allowed to see all...
Does anyone recognise this funeral photograph? (2) Could this be the tail end of the funeral? The first photo is obviously Chalkwell Road and this one is looking West up Holleybank Hill. and toward Chalkwell.
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/bryn2/100_0682.jpg
Alston family and Chalkwell Tannery (0) I am researching the Alston family who owned the Chalkwell tannery through the 'first half' of the 19 century. Can you confirm that William Alston was the first Alston - he died 1833; then did his son William S Alston carry on the business, but died young? Do...
Buggs' Field and Sittingbourne Street names (1) Thanks for your enquiry.
I can help you with the location of Buggs Field, as I came across it last week whilst comparing the 1840 Tithe Map with the 1791 Yeakell Map! It’s strange how these things seem to work out!
Below is an image from the 1791...
Ufton Court/Ufton Manor/ Ufton Court Manor? (1) Three pictures of the elusive Ufton Court Farm, of which there appears to be nothing left. Accessed via a footpath known locally as `The Ashpath` or `Cinder Track` which began approximately at the junction of Ufton Lane/West Ridge. The first few yards are...
Cement Industry (2) If it is of any interest, I have just discovered the route of the pipeline through which the slurry from Highsted Chalk Quarry was pumped to the Smeed Dean Brickfield and Cement Works at Murston.
'The slurry pipeline rises from the pit in the `tunnel`...
" The Kings Yard ", Sittingbourne (1) http://www.hrgs.co.uk/components/com_agora/img/members/2/mini_kings-yard.jpg
I think I might have a definitive answer for you for this one - provided I've got the right time period, as you didn't mention what date your reference was from. That doesn’t...
Sittingbourne Alms Houses (4) From Archaeologia Cantiana vol. XLIII (1931) page 59
'To the Alms House next unto the Vyne, a pair of sheets and coverlet.'
Will of Margery Smythson, 20 April 1508
Local Archaeology
