4000 Years of Human Activity: Tanyard North, Lenham (Liberty View)

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The current planning system means the developer is expected to pay for archaeological investigations. This means that fieldwork starts after planning permission is given.

The developer who was given planning permission for a field (Tanyard North) on Old Ashford Road, Lenham, might consider themselves unfortunate. Thanks to a wealth of archaeological treasures, the dig which might have lasted a few weeks, required 8 months and unearthed 4000 years of human activity on a 1.7 ha. site.[fn1]

A Roman track, constructed in layers was uncovered when the Community Centre in the adjoining field was built in the early 2000s.[fn2] This track continued into the Tanyard Field which had been a very popular spot for metal detectorists; those who walked the field with permission of the landowner, as well as others, night hawks, who came out under the cover of darkness to illegally seek buried treasures. The ‘word-of-mouth’ popularity of the site made it evident that much was found here: however, we do not have a comprehensive record of all that was found.

The archaeological investigation for the new development, ‘Liberty View’, was carried out by Thames Valley Archaeological Services (TVAS) and their finds were surprising, even for those in the know.[fn3]

Thousands of worked Mesolithic flints were recovered from the site. Finding worked flints in this quantity is extremely unusual for the period and indicates a prolonged presence and continuation of this activity. Charred hazelnut shells associated with this Mesolithic assemblage await carbon dating. From the later Mesolithic period, a smaller assemblage of struck flints was recovered, all oval shaped and found in a scatter aligned east to west across the field.

[fg]jpg|Fig 1 – Excavations of the Bronze Age Barrow. Image courtesy of Thames Valley Archaeological Service, 2026.|Image[/fg]

[pg55]During the Bronze Age, the site was used for the burial of cremated remains, both in urns and un-urned. Two barrow ditches were unearthed, both were ‘Beaker Burials’, so called because the dead were buried along with a very recognisable style of beaker pottery. At the centre of the first ring ditch was a beaker and the skeleton of an adult male in a crouched position. Carbon dating of a rib bone showed that the individual had been alive sometime between 2204 and 2033 BC. Nearby was another beaker burial of a child under the age of 9. On the southern edge of the site, a small urnfield of six cremation burials, probably Bronze Age, were found. They were covered with a spread of material which seems to be barrow material.

There were three Late Iron Age cremation burials containing 12 complete vessels imported from the continent, plates with food offerings (bones still remaining in situ), copper-alloy brooches, a large iron cauldron, and part of a dog skeleton. This rich assemblage indicated the burials were high status and of national significance.

In addition to the trackway mentioned above, features from the Roman period included a corn dryer with evidence of burning in the flue and a stoke pit. A 4m wide well was excavated to a depth of 2.5m. At the base were many animal bones and a complete set of antlers. A large, angled enclosure ditch was unearthed nearby. The corner slot of this ditch contained a deposit of cow skulls. Large quantities of nails, iron ore and iron artefacts were found in the northeast section of the site suggesting that this area was a possibly dedicated to metal working. Remains of a Roman building were also uncovered. However, as this was truncated by a later Anglo-Saxon structure, it could not be fully analysed.

The most astonishing discovery came in the form of a possible Anglo-Saxon Hall measuring 37m x 11m. To the south of this structure was a cobbled floor with evidence of wheel ruts. For comparison, the hall would have covered more than half the width of a football pitch, from the touch line to the centre spot. The postholes potentially form a building which will, if confirmed, be the largest ever found in England. In the report summary, the author confidently argues:

“The Saxon phase is presented by a massive post-built hall, whose size alone is suggestive of a royal connection.”[fn4]

[fg]jpg|Fig 2 – The Iron Age cauldron and associated assemblage in situ, under excavation. Image courtesy of Thames Valley Archaeological Service, 2026.|Image[/fg]

[pg56]A Royal Connection?

The Royal connection takes us to the grave of three Anglo-Saxons, discovered in 1948 during restoration work on the (now aptly named) Saxon Warrior Pharmacy building in Lenham.[fn5] The skeletons were of two men and a woman buried together in one grave. The people sharing this grave might have perished within a few days of each other. Of disease? Or were they slain? Were they locals or were they travellers? Not much is known about the circumstances of their death, and we may never know for sure. The individuals appear to have been buried with care because one of the males was buried with his sword, a valuable personal item with gold inlay, which would have been extremely precious. The so-called-warrior also had a shield with a shield boss and one or two spears. The grave was, without any doubt of very high status.

[fg]jpg|Fig 3 – Excavation of the Anglo-Saxon timber framed hall. Image courtesy of Thames Valley Archaeological Service, 2026.|Image[/fg]

[fg]jpg|Fig 4 – Photograph of the Anglo-Saxon burial, 1948. Image provided by a local resident, courtesy of Henny Shotter, 2026.|Image[/fg]

[pg57]The royal connection also takes us to one of three Saxon chronicles (S 159) from AD 804.[fn6] The chronicle reads:

“Coenwulf, king of Mercia and Cudred, king of Kent grant to Eanbert, their kinsman 20 sulungs of land in sewestralenham with thirteen swine pastures in the Weald.”

We can conclude from this charter that in 804 a settlement called Lenham (with this alternative spelling) already existed, and that c.4800 acres of land to the west of this existing settlement was given to Eanbert, a ‘kinsman’ which could be a term used to describe a blood relative.

We don’t know where exactly this ‘Lenham’ was and whether it was in the hands of Eanbert or someone else. Lenham is understood to be an Anglo-Saxon name and has been interpreted as the homestead of a person called ‘Leana’.[fn7] The burning question for us local historians is whether this newly discovered possible Anglo-Saxon Hall might have been the ‘Homestead of Leana’?

What is for certain, is that long before the new ‘Liberty View’ estate was built on the Tanyard Farm site, it had already experienced at least 4000 years of human occupation.

The summary of the excellent Tanyard report shows the scale of the task ahead:

• Over 6,600 worked flints were recovered (c.30% Mesolithic).

• Approximately 10,977 sherds of pottery were collected.

• Surprisingly, only 77 copper alloy coins were recovered (perhaps a result of metal detecting in the past?).

• 3235 pieces of metalwork were recorded (mainly of Roman origin).

• 4585 pieces of ceramic building material weighing 242.5 kg (both Roman and Saxon contexts).

• 132 kg of iron slag was recovered (mainly Roman).

• 88 pieces of glass were found (mainly Roman).

• A significant process of post excavation analysis is underway and will undoubtedly lead to a new understanding of the site and the surrounding region.[fn8]

[fg]jpg|Fig 5 – 2022 aerial image highlighting possible features in the adjacent field. Map data ©2026 Google.|Image[/fg]

[pg58]Planning permission was given for the whole site, and the developer has fulfilled the archaeological brief. However, a Google Earth image of March 2022 recorded a multitude of circular features on Phase 3 of the site, seemingly after the soil was stripped back. Considering that round barrows were previously uncovered, it would be beneficial to Lenham’s historic record to better understand these features. We still hope that the developer might allow a group of trained nonprofessional archaeologists onto the site, or that a sponsor can be found for a limited excavation on the remaining field.

Henny Shotter is the Secretary of Lenham Heritage Society, a local tour guide, local historian and is a member of various heritage groups including the Kent Archaeological Society’s Historic Buildings Group. Her interest in local history started as a child going to the local museum and looking at Celtic artefacts her grandfather had helped to dig up. Later, she was involved in creating a Roman Trail through the Roman Town of Ancaster and co-wrote an accompanying guide through the town.[fn9]

Bibliography

Foster, M. 2023. ‘Land at Tanyard Farm, Lenham, Kent ; A Post-Excavation Assessment. Thames Valley Archaeological Services LTD March 2023

Goodsall, R. 1966. ‘The Saxon Warriors of Lenham’ in ‘A Kentish Patchwork’, Constable and Company LTD, London

Mills, A. D. 1991. Oxford Dictionary of English Place names, Oxford University Press, Oxford New York

‘The Electronic Sawyer, Online Catalogue of Anglo-Saxon Charters: https://esawyer.lib.cam.ac.uk/about/index.html

[fn]1|www.tvas.co.uk/2021/10/07/excavations-at-tanyard-farm-lenham-kent/[/fn]

[fn]2|SUMO 2018[/fn]

[fn]3|For the complete report see: Foster, 2023.[/fn]

[fn]4|The report is cautious in the assumption that this is a Saxon Hall, except in the summary.[/fn]

[fn]5|Goodsall, 1966[/fn]

[fn]6|S 159 in ‘The Electronic Sawyer, Online Catalogue of Anglo-Saxon Charters.[/fn]

[fn]7|Mills, 1991[/fn]

[fn]8|We are grateful to Maidstone Museum for sharing the description of the catalogued items with us.[/fn]

[fn]9|Ancaster: A Roman Town, by Jenny Stevens and Henny Shotter see also: www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancaster_(Roman_town)[/fn]