Written records
The earliest written record of Roman activity around Newington is, as far as we know, from 1634.
The evidence comes from the 18th century historian, Edward Hasted, quoting the Kent clergyman, Meric Casaubon.
According to Hasted, Casaubon describes a remarkably extensive Roman cemetery in the area of Keycol Hill, with so many cremation urns that ‘he does not remember an instance of so many having been found, in so small a compass of ground’.
Sadly for present day archaeologists, Hasted also describes how ‘The great numbers of urns……..have been dispersed among the curious around the county’ and little evidence remains now.
But both Casaubon and Hasted took the vast number of burial urns to suggest that this area was one of considerable importance and Hasted goes so far as to suggest that it could be Durolevum, a Roman station whose location has been hotly debated by historians and archaeologists for centuries.
Archaeological remains
In more recent years, the remains of a villa were discovered by local brick-makers digging for clay north of Boxted Lane.
The villa lies just over 4km north of the current A2, which generally follows the course of Watling Street, the major road Roman leading from London to Canterbury.
According to Historic England, the building is 65 metres long and 15 metres wide with projecting wings either side. To the east is a further range of buildings and to the south west, a well nearly 4m deep. At least two of the rooms had tessellated floors and walls faced with painted plaster.
Meanwhile, a Roman temple was unearthed in a field off Breach Lane just 250 metres south.
A partial excavation in 1969-1970 showed a square building with each outer wall measuring 13.4 metres. It is a typical design, with concentric foundation walls forming an outer ambulatory enclosing a cellaor inner chamber. Pottery sherds from 100-200CE were found as well as a small votive pit.
The road well-travelled
The course of Watling Street, the Roman military road linking Canterbury to London, has barely changed since the 1st century CE and runs straight through Newington. In the Roman period, it would have been reserved for military use and there is some evidence to suggest that smaller roads ran parallel for civilians.
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