The Excavation of Grange Manor
On the 13th September 2013 The Rainham and Gillingham Local History Society received a talk by Vic Chidley of the Lower Medway Archeological Society.
A Grange was the farm managed during the medieval period by a monastery. It would have been worked by lay monks from the monastery at Gillingham Green, the church originally being associated with that establishment. The manor was the local administrative area, the house serving as the centre for the collection of tithes, and where the local courts sat. The Manor House is located in Grange Road. The site has been cut in half by the construction of the Northern Link Road which now provides a motorway connection between Rainham and Strood and then Gravesend joining the M2 at Meopham.
The Maidstone Archeological Society dug the site in 1875, and a map was produced showing the extent of the Roman site which extended from Gillingham to Rainham along the Watling Street, arranged in about twelve plots of about 40 acres each. This was rich arable land and when cultivated by the Roman army led eventually to the area coming to be known as the garden of England.
The second century garrison founded here by the emperors Vespasian and Claudius was known by the name of Vectis, and the town which soon emerged to serve it Colognier. The area was of strategic importance to the Roman army because it provided an inland site capable of easy communication by river and sea with the important fort of Richborough. Richborough itself was the main trading centre between Europe and the Roman establishment in Britain. And the area around what is now Kent was used to provide the army with valuable food supplies.
It is known that the 9th Legion was based in Rochester. It was called ‘espaniolar’ possibly because it was manned predominantly by men from the lands of Gaul which we now call Spain, the 800 men of the legion eventually being lost in Scotland. We don’t know the legions which were established at the Vectis Garrison site, but a 25th Legion oil light was found during the excavation. Other finds included Bethersden marble, Roman coins, samian ware fragments, and pieces of amphora which were used extensively for the transportation of wine, oil, a fish sauce much loved by the Romans and many other materials.
After the withdrawal of the Roman army in the fifth century the Romanised British society was weak and brought Saxon warrior groups in to protect them. This led to more Saxon incursions which resulted in Saxon domination over the succeeding centuries.
The nine month excavation of the 40 acre Roman garrison site found a large amount of evidence of later occupation. A monastic depository survives built by the Norman Bishop Odo. A chapel built about 1250 which was destroyed by fire in the 16th century still stands. And a 14th century building with Tudor brickwork still exists. There are signs that a fishpond served the Manor House. Other finds included a Jutish necklace, and sixty German bombs!
This was a fascinating if complex talk which may well have stimulated much further interest amongst the audience.
On the 13th September 2013 The Rainham and Gillingham Local History Society received a talk by Vic Chidley of the Lower Medway Archeological Society.
A Grange was the farm managed during the medieval period by a monastery. It would have been worked by lay monks from the monastery at Gillingham Green, the church originally being associated with that establishment. The manor was the local administrative area, the house serving as the centre for the collection of tithes, and where the local courts sat. The Manor House is located in Grange Road. The site has been cut in half by the construction of the Northern Link Road which now provides a motorway connection between Rainham and Strood and then Gravesend joining the M2 at Meopham.
The Maidstone Archeological Society dug the site in 1875, and a map was produced showing the extent of the Roman site which extended from Gillingham to Rainham along the Watling Street, arranged in about twelve plots of about 40 acres each. This was rich arable land and when cultivated by the Roman army led eventually to the area coming to be known as the garden of England.
The second century garrison founded here by the emperors Vespasian and Claudius was known by the name of Vectis, and the town which soon emerged to serve it Colognier. The area was of strategic importance to the Roman army because it provided an inland site capable of easy communication by river and sea with the important fort of Richborough. Richborough itself was the main trading centre between Europe and the Roman establishment in Britain. And the area around what is now Kent was used to provide the army with valuable food supplies.
It is known that the 9th Legion was based in Rochester. It was called ‘espaniolar’ possibly because it was manned predominantly by men from the lands of Gaul which we now call Spain, the 800 men of the legion eventually being lost in Scotland. We don’t know the legions which were established at the Vectis Garrison site, but a 25th Legion oil light was found during the excavation. Other finds included Bethersden marble, Roman coins, samian ware fragments, and pieces of amphora which were used extensively for the transportation of wine, oil, a fish sauce much loved by the Romans and many other materials.
After the withdrawal of the Roman army in the fifth century the Romanised British society was weak and brought Saxon warrior groups in to protect them. This led to more Saxon incursions which resulted in Saxon domination over the succeeding centuries.
The nine month excavation of the 40 acre Roman garrison site found a large amount of evidence of later occupation. A monastic depository survives built by the Norman Bishop Odo. A chapel built about 1250 which was destroyed by fire in the 16th century still stands. And a 14th century building with Tudor brickwork still exists. There are signs that a fishpond served the Manor House. Other finds included a Jutish necklace, and sixty German bombs!
This was a fascinating if complex talk which may well have stimulated much further interest amongst the audience.