and tile quarry for builders in the immediate locality for a considerable period of time. The same argument is applicable throughout the country, as wherever Roman tiles occur in the walls of churches it is a sure sign that Roman foundations are near by.

In Kent several instances could be enumerated where blocks of Roman concrete mixed with roughly broken tile have also been built into later walls.

Our account of the Darenth villa and its surroundings would be incomplete without some reference to the Roman station called Vagniaca, the site of which is on the line of the great military way at Springhead, about 3 miles north-east from the villa. It may be imagined that the dwellers at these two places were well known to each other, and that communication was kept up between them. We may even go so far as to say that perhaps agricultural or other supplies were obtained from the owner of the villa for the use of the military station, which was a temporary halting-place for troops on the march, where refreshment for man and beast and relays of horses could be secured.

The possessors of houses such as has been unearthed at Darenth must have owned a large tract of land, which consisted, as now, of arable, pasture, and woodland, necessitating the breeding of horses, cattle, sheep, swine, and other animals. These latter and the produce of the farms would not all be required for home use; a market must therefore have been found for the surplus in the neighbourhood.

It is perhaps necessary to remind the ordinary observer that in order to fully appreciate the great homestead in the Darenth Valley, the changes wrought by Nature and the hand of man upon the surrounding landscape during a period of some seventeen centuries must be taken into consideration. A vast accumulation of soil which has been ceaselessly moving downwards from the high ground would, in imagination, have to be removed from the valley, likewise the alluvial deposit along the banks of the river. On the other hand the face of the country would have to be clothed with luxurious forests which spread over the greater part of our fertile county in Roman times. These gigantic forests

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not only sheltered the homes of the colonists from the blasts of winter, but they provided them with most of the necessaries incidental to human existence. From them they obtained wood for fuel and all other purposes to which it could be applied.

The numerous wild animals that roamed the forest provided them with meat, and the bones were turned to account by being fashioned into various articles for daily use. Then again the fine antlers of the Old Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) were judiciously sawn up so that the tines would serve as picks, and single or double-pronged hoes, handles for knives, tools, etc.

It is almost needless to say that the skins of both wild and domestic animals were also utilized to the utmost extent, after having been dressed and converted into leather. There are specimens of Roman shoes or sandals extant, but at Darenth we were only favoured by finding a cluster of hobnails which had dropped from a pair of shoes left behind in one of the corridors.

We cannot conclude our remarks without referring to the Jutish cemetery that was cut through when the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway was in process of construction. The hill on which the "Home for Little Boys" stands, near Horton Kirby, may be taken as the site, but the interments were met with in the railway cutting to the north of the Home, barely a mile from the villa. The Rev. R. P. Coates, becoming aware of the discoveries, explored some of the graves, being assisted in the work by a grant from the funds. of our Society. The results of his researches are recorded in the Archeological Journal, xxiv., 281. Among the objects found with the skeletons was one of those saucer-shaped bronze brooches of the highest rarity in Kent.

The presence of this cemetery in the vicinity of Darenth proves that some of the Teutonic tribes which swarmed into the country after the Roman legions were withdrawn, in the first decade of the fifth century, took up their abode in the locality. When that event occurred it was fraught for a long time with danger and disaster to the Romano-British population, furnishing in itself a sufficient reason for the

abandonment of the villa. We have, at present, very slight evidence that the Anglo-Saxons occupied the dwellings of the Romans, some of which were undoubtedly rendered tenantless by their unwelcome presence. That in-born fear of the Evil Eye and strong superstitious belief in charms and magic, so characteristic of the Teutonic race, caused them to shun the Roman houses and build homes for themselves elsewhere after their own fashion, with materials which have not stood the test of time. Although we are unaware to what extent this aversion was carried, instances could be quoted of the Anglo-Saxons having used the cemeteries of their predecessors. This was not accidental, because their sites must have been well known, and the graves, moreover, marked by mounds and other memorials which have long since been swept away by the cultivation of the soil.

At Lullingstone Castle, the Kentish seat of Sir William Hart-Dyke, Bart., M.P., are preserved objects obtained from both Roman and Jutish interments that were discovered in its environs. Some of the graves were found to the north of Lullingstone, near the railway cutting, and others occurred a mile and a quarter distant, in the cutting by Eynsford Station, to the east of the Castle. Although we have only a bare account of a portion of these discoveries (Archæologia Cantiana, III., pp. 36-44), it is an important link in the historic chain. The Roman remains have hitherto escaped being recorded, they therefore shed new light on the early occupation of this exceedingly picturesque locality.

There is nothing in the fields about Darenth to indicate where the burying-place is of those who dwelt within the walls of the villa from first to last. It is certainly close at hand, and the archæologist of the future may look for it by the side of the ancient Pack-way above the villa.

In conclusion, the writer feels that every one interested in the antiquities of our country would desire him to express their gratitude to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners and Mr. Burtenshaw for allowing the exploration on Court Lodge Farm to be made, also to Mrs. Rolls Hoare and Mr. E. Arnott Clowes for their public spirit in prosecuting the extensive researches at all risks. Fortunately the money

taken at the gates covered the heavy expenditure, hence no loss was sustained.

To Mr. Robert Marchant of Cedar Lawn, Sutton-at-Hone, who was a pupil of the eminent architect Sir Arthur Blomfield, A.R.A., we are indebted for the admirably executed Plan which accompanies this report.

It is not often that an architect at the outset of his professional career is called upon to undertake such a task as that which Mr. Marchant carried out so skilfully at Darenth. He has since joined our Society, and we may therefore hope to be favoured with future contributions to Archeologia Cantiana from his pen.

To Mr. E. C. Youens of Dartford, who is also a member of the Society, our warmest thanks are due for his kindness in acting as Honorary Photographer throughout the operations. Our illustrations are reproductions from the excellent photographs taken by him.

The writer eagerly takes advantage of this opportunity to record his grateful thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Clowes, Mr. and Mrs T. B. Marchant, the Rev. and Mrs. Bingham Stevens, Mr. Lewis Hassell, Mrs. Marchant of Cedar Lawn, and Mr. and Mrs. Percy Hassell, for their unbounded hospitality which enabled him to survive the Arctic winter of 1894 to which he was daily exposed.

THE RECTORS OF PLUCKLEY, KENT, FOR UPWARDS OF SIX HUNDRED YEARS.

BY THE REV. FRANCIS HASLEWOOD, F.S.A.

THE benefice of Pluckley, being one of the most valuable pieces of preferment in the patronage of the Archbishops of Canterbury, has been held by many noteworthy men who have distinguished themselves at the Universities, and subsequently displayed considerable literary talents. It nevertheless seems strange that only one of the goodly list of worthies was elevated to a bishopric, and another attained a deanery, and in both instances these distinctions were conferred on men of our own times.

1281. JOHN DE LYMYng is the first Rector mentioned in Archbishop Peckham's Register, from which it appears His Grace admitted him at Lambeth to the Church of Pluckley on January 26th, 1281. As the benefice was then vacant, there must have been Rectors serving the parish prior to that date. Though Pluckley is mentioned in Domesday, it seems from Furley's History (i., 226) that there was no church there at that early period; Pevington, however, within the parish, was provided in this respect.

The same Archiepiscopal Register records the citation of the Rectors of Great and Little Chart, Pluckley, etc., in 1282 for refusing to be present at celebration of orders; and also that the Archbishop ordained at South Malling in September 1285 an acolyte, one Nicholas de Plukele (Add. MS. Brit. Mus. 6062, f. 51 b).

1313. JOHN DE LA WATERE is the next name that has come down. Archbishop Winchelsey collated him to Pluckley May 7, He is described as "acolitum de Maydestane" (Winchelsey,

55b).

1363. WILLIAM DE ROTHYG. This Rector died prior to June 14, 1363, because a document so dated exhibits "a general release from all actions given by the Prior and Chapter of Christ Church