EDO517 - Near Common Mead Lane, Gillingham; observations during the laying of a water main 1951

Romano-British pottery was discovered during the excavation of a trench for a water main which ran south westwards from a reservoir in a field to the north of Common Mead Lane. 'No objects were noticed when the trench, which was about 3 ft 6ins deep [and 2ft wide], passed along the east side of the field boundary where the OS maps note "Roman and British pottery etc found AD1869", but in the field south of this point, at about NGR ST79952620, three shallow depressions were observed in the underlying soil, which [was described] as clay with patches of gravel on top…where shown in section these depressions were about 12 to 15ft wide and a foot deep, and about a foot below the surface. One piece of pottery was found near the bottom of these depressions, but the remainder was found in the excavated spoil. With exception of a medieval sherd of 12th century type and one or two abraded fragments, apparently handmade and probably of the Early Iron Age, the pottery was all Romano-British and included a piece of dark slip coated ware of New Forest type. It is understood that the pottery has been given to the Senior Modern School, Gillingham.' [1]