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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 June 2012
In the autumn of 1838, and in the spring of last year, excavations were made for the foundations of cottages, and also for materials for brickmaking, in a field called Church-field, situate on the banks of the Medway, between the town of Strood and the Temple farm, and opposite the castle of Rochester.
Some jet rings, and an ornament of the same material bearing a Medusa's head, were exhibited to the Society about a twelvemonth since, with a brief remark, stating the fact of their having been found during the progress of the work, with several hundred coins.
This announcement induced me to visit the spot. Finding that the report was not exaggerated, but, on the contrary, that other discoveries had been made and might still be looked for, I repeated my visit several times during the summer, and now lay the result before you ; at the same time I am enabled to furnish information relative to contemporary investigations in other parts of the county of Kent.
page 218 note a For the drawings of these and other remains exhibited to the Society, together with the Map (Plate XXII.) and its references, I am indebted to Mr. Humphrey Wickham of Strood, who has also supplied me with much useful information relative to this discovery. To Mr. S. Steele of Strood, and to Mr. Charlton of Chatham, I am likewise indebted for ready access afforded to their collections from the Church-field.
page 218 note b Æneid, lib. xi. line 71.
page 219 note c These coins, independent of the interest attached to them in connexion with the locality, present us with only one new type. This is on a small brass coin of Carausius, Obv. IMP. CARAVSIVS. P. AVG. Radiated head to the right, bust in the paludamentum. Rev. LEG. IIXX. PRIMIG. In exergue ML. Capricorn to the right. This coin was previously unknown. It is of historical importance in authenticating the fact of this legion, or one or more of its cohorts, having sided with Carausius in his assumption of the imperial power in Britain. The numerals may stand either for eighteen or twenty-two; I am inclined to prefer the latter reading, as the twenty-second legion, having the title of Primigenia, and composed of foreigners, was quartered in Gaul and Belgium.
page 220 note d Among them is one of the Gaulish or British type frequently found in Kent, reading IPPI. COM. Rev. an eagle. It closely resembles a specimen found on the hill above Kit's Coty House with Roman coins. Num. Chron. vol. i. p. 84. The coins, &c. are in the possession of Mr. Lake of Bapchild.
page 220 note e This is known by the name of Gravel-pit field. Mr. Lake has recently obtained from the field a perfect patera in red ware, inscribed REGILIVS. F.
page 221 note f Page 3.
page 222 note g Britannia Romana, p. 425.
page 223 note h Page 425.
page 224 note k Vol. ii. p. 561.
page 225 note l The fine red were termed Samian, with good reason supposed to have been imported into Britain, is only occasionally discovered in these marshes. A patera, 11 inches in diameter, with the potter's name, COCCVS. F. in the centre, is preserved at the inn at Upchurch, and a smaller variety marked OF. CATVI. is in the possession of the Rev. J. Woodruffe, in whose collection is another of the same maker inscribed CATVS. F. found in a field southwest of Upchurch in a funereal deposit. The only coins noticed as having been found in the marshes are two in middle brass, one of which is of Julia Mamæa; rev. Vesta; the other, illegible.