Beneath our feet lies a story of Roman life. This is Farningham Roman villa I. It whispers tales from centuries ago.
Farningham Roman villa I includes a Romano-British villa and a possible Iron Age farmstead. It sits on the western bank of the River Darent. Imagine a rectangular building, 29 meters long. It is up to 19.4 meters wide facing southeast. Projecting wings stood at either end. Partial excavations in the 1940s, 1960s, and 1970s revealed much. The villa was in use from the early second century AD to the early fifth century AD.
Farningham Roman villa I was constructed in two main phases. The second phase occurred during the fourth century. This entailed rebuilding and extending the earlier timber-built villa. Flint foundations were added. They supported a renewed timber superstructure. One room had a hypocaust. This underfloor heating system warmed the inhabitants. The remains of two infants were found. They were buried with a large stone jar beneath the villa floor.
Before the Romans, Iron Age people occupied this site. Their farmstead’s remains lie buried beneath the villa. Ditches and pits mark their presence. These were revealed during the 1960s excavations. The River Darent changed its course. This happened after the villa was abandoned. This natural shift damaged the villa’s northeastern end.
Gravel extraction occurred in the 1970s. It was used for constructing the nearby M20 motorway. This extraction destroyed the remainder of the villa complex. It also eradicated further traces of the Iron Age farmstead. The extraction destroyed traces of later, early medieval occupation. A sunken-floored house was found 100 meters east of the main villa site. This was during a rescue excavation in the 1970s.
Romano-British villas were extensive rural estates. They included domestic and agricultural buildings. Sometimes they even housed industrial buildings. The term villa describes either the estate or the buildings themselves. Buildings included a well-appointed dwelling house. Its design varied based on the owner’s needs and wealth. Most houses were partly or wholly stone-built. Many had timber-framed superstructures on masonry footings. Roofs were generally tiled. Houses featured tiled or mosaic floors. Underfloor heating, wall plaster, glazed windows, and cellars were common. Many had heated baths. The house was accompanied by farm labourer accommodations and workshops. Storage for agricultural produce was also vital. These buildings were arranged around a courtyard.
Villa buildings were constructed throughout the Roman occupation. This ranged from the first to the fourth centuries AD. They were complex structures occupied for hundreds of years. They were continually remodelled to fit changing circumstances. Villas served administrative, recreational, and craft functions. Villa owners were drawn from an elite section of Romano-British society. Some villas belonged to immigrant Roman officials. Most were in the hands of wealthy natives. Some villas were built directly on Iron Age farmsteads.
Despite damage from the river, gravel extraction, and ploughing, Farningham Roman villa I survives comparatively well. It contains archaeological remains and environmental evidence. It provides insight into the landscape in which it was constructed. Farningham Roman villa I is one of several Roman villas along the River Darent. This suggests high agricultural productivity and economic importance in northwestern Kent during Roman times.
The Iron Age farmsteads often had enclosures. They contained circular domestic buildings. They also contained agricultural structures. Excavations found storage pits for grain and other produce. These show an organized farming system. The enclosures provided protection against cattle rustling and tribal raiding.
The close relationship between the farmstead and the villa provides evidence. It shows the continuity of settlement. This spans from the prehistoric period through the Roman occupation. That began around AD 43. As you stand here, consider the layers of history beneath you. Farningham Roman villa I connects us to those who lived here long ago.