Rovers Group: Medieval shipbuilding, Romans, and more!
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An introduction to the discoveries in the landscape around the Tenterden area, made by the Rovers Group, and initially inspired by the Searching for Ebony Project, and the National Trust excavations at Smallhythe Place.
During the closing stages of the National Trust Smallhythe dig in 2023, the author and a fellow volunteer were idly chatting over tea and biscuits... We were musing whether it might be feasible to continue investigating the extent of medieval shipbuilding beyond the National Trust boundaries, independently and in our spare time.
As we had both been metal detecting for roves that day, finding them by the hundreds, we spoke about the idea of using that method in neighbouring fields if we could get permissions. I then jokingly said ‘Why don’t we call ourselves the ‘Rovers’, as we might be wandering all over the local landscape.
A few months later, after some detective work, I tracked down the relevant landowner whose estates abut the National Trust boundary at Smallhythe, and includes most of the Reading Street area, the site of the building of The Regent for Henry VIII. Fortunately, they enthusiastically agreed that we could commence field walking and metal detecting in the fields surrounding a large man-made hollow (Fig 2) that would have connected with the tidal estuary in former times.
[fg]jpg|Fig. 1 – Rother Valley approximate tidal limits.|Image[/fg]
THE ROVERS GROUP – WHO ARE WE?
The Rovers Group have links with Natalie Cohen of the National Trust, HAARG, Kevin Cornwell and his Magnetometer team, WIRG, KAS, Isle Heritage CIC, maritime archaeologist Elliott Wragg and historian Ian Friel, Tenterden Museum, Tenterden and District Local History Society, Hastings Shipwreck Museum, and the County Archaeologists of Kent and East Sussex, all of whom have freely offered advice and assistance, and last but not least our friend, Luke Barber, who has donated his precious time to help identify finds on an occasional basis.
THE TEAM
Lindsay Akerman
East Sussex / Kent borders most of my life.
Amateur Landscape Archaeologist for many years, finally signed off in my Skills Passport by my hero, Stewart Ainsworth, after a masterclass at Smallhythe.
I am an active member of the Rovers Group, who are exploring the Rother/Limen estuarine region, and the neighbouring Wealden hinterlands. Since retiring I have been a regular volunteer with the National Trust digs at Smallhythe Place and Bodiam, and with the Lossenham project from the outset, all of which have provided invaluable experience in improving my fieldworking skills.
The masterclasses at the National
Trust digs were invaluable to achieving steep learning curves in many aspects of archaeology and finds conservation. I also volunteered with SPAB at Boxley Abbey; geophysics with HAARG and then rebuilding a few square metres of precinct wall with hot lime.
Sarah Burgess BA (Hons) Classics / Archaeology
Isle of Oxney
Anything equine, part time leather worker. Interests: Use of the horse in warfare, development of saddlery and veterinary techniques through history. Romano-British history and agricultural practices, hounds and hunting dogs, local history. I have excavated local Roman sites and have strong ties with other group members from a range of projects, including report writing.
Alan Charman
East Sussex
I was involved in the Searching for Ebony Project, I am an experienced metal detectorist, landscape investigator, and small finds anorak.
Portable Antiquities Self-recorder.
Kent and East Sussex PAS Volunteer.
I have discovered, surveyed and assisted with excavating a few small Roman sites in the locality.
AUTHORS NOTE - Alan is ourselves himself, it is like having our very own FLO in the group, and his knowledge and teaching of detecting has been key to our success.
[fg]jpg|Fig. 2 – Location of the boat-shaped hollow.|Image[/fg]
Paul Kennard
East Sussex
Design Engineer, project manager, and magician at Retrotec Ltd (Vintage aircraft engineers)
Part time metal detectorist, landscape investigator, and WW2 aviation ammo expert!
Dreams of travelling and world peace.
Alan Payne
Kent
Retired Kent Fingerprint Expert and Crime Scene Investigator.
Smallholder and Artist.
National Trust archaeology volunteer at Smallhythe and Bodiam, with metal-detectorist experience.
Patrick Shier
Kent
Author of UK Dive Guide, underwater photojournalist, and improving metal detectorist.
Semi-retired, working part-time for Kent Social Services.
I am fairly new to the group but have more than a few roves to my credit!
WHAT HAVE WE BEEN UP TO?
In forthcoming articles, we hope to share a chronological account of the search for Medieval shipbuilding at Reading Street, which led to encountering parts of the Napoleonic Barracks, rapidly discovering a significant Roman iron-making settlement nearby, and eventually amassing enough relevant evidence of shipbuilding to add an interesting proposition to the maritime archaeological record. We will also describe our extended shipbuilding survey at Smallhythe, which is extensive and a significant addition to the National Trust work there.
We will also describe our extended shipbuilding survey at Smallhythe, which is extensive and represents a significant addition to the National Trust’s work there.
We have carried out a watching brief, trial excavations and metal detecting as part of an intensive landscape survey at the invitation of several residents of Smallhythe village, and further investigations of that nature are being negotiated.
More recently, we have located and partially excavated two bloomery sites near to Benenden, both of non-tapping type, assessed pond bays and other landscape features including routeways in the area, and have begun looking at some of the land directly opposite Smallhythe Place. An ongoing project just a short way into Sussex, at Udimore is in the early stages but it is a fascinating landscape, indelibly linked with the Rother estuarine activities.
METHODS DEPLOYED
We make extensive use of satellite imagery, Lidar, old map sources, and the Historic Environment Records for both counties, to which we have added some nominal data, subject to final reports being produced.
Fieldwalking and metal detecting seem to work well together, as does taking time to look at the landscape and envisage how it has evolved over many hundreds of years. We enjoy good relations with local landowners, particularly in the Tenterden/Benenden area, some of whom have provided us with questions, knowledge, resources such as old maps and reports, and often an introduction to their neighbours.
[fg]jpg|Fig. 4 – Reading Street surveys summary.|Image[/fg]
[fg]jpg|Fig. 5 – Barrack Farm magnetometry survey (courtesy of Isle Heritage and HAARG).|Image[/fg]
Figs 1–4 courtesy of Lindsay Akerman, permissions obtained, 2025.
Basemap images © Google Earth.
To date, we have delivered a Living History Day at Tenterden Museum, given an informal talk to Appledore Local History Society, and hosted a stall in St Mildred’s Church, Tenterden, at the invitation of the local history group. It is central to our mission to keep the local populace informed and excited about the landscape around them, and we are grateful to KAS for enabling us to produce what should be a fascinating series of articles in future editions.
Please note: Before conducting archaeological fieldwork, consult relevant landowners, county archaeologists, and Historic Environment Records (HER) for up-to-date guidance and permissions. Support for project funding and report writing may be secured from grant-giving bodies such as the Kent Archaeological Society or Council for British Archaeology South East. Archaeology is a destructive act, and it is our responsibility to ensure work is carried out, reported appropriately, and results made publicly accessible.
NOTES
A small metal plate or ring for a rivet to pass through and be clenched over, especially in boatbuilding.
The Regent was a powerful warship built for Henry VIII, launched in 1488.