The excavation started in 2019 and continued to 2023 (with a break for Covid-19 in 2020) revealing an "L" shaped building with a waterwheel, which was extended in the 1880s. Having identified Mill walls
(at foundation level) we identified numerous brick structures, including brick pillars to support the waterwheel. Over 500 finds have been discovered which include a range of industrial and domestic objects, such as clay pipe stems, glazed pottery and industrial iron implements.

The 1840 Tithe map shows two small buildings on our Powder Mill Lane site (probably gunpowder works) which were replaced by a later corn mill in 1845, whose development can be traced through map evidence prior to its demolition in 1938.

This site was excavated based on the visual identification of brick walls matching the location of two buildings which are visible on the 1840 Tithe map, and a later larger building (Corn Mill) which evolved on the site during the Victorian and Edwardian period. An addition of a large waterwheel was to provide power for the grinding of the corn. The earlier buildings may have been used for gunpowder production, but until relevant gunpowder milling artefacts are found this cannot be proven.

Brick structures linked with the mill site have been found, plus a range of domestic and industrial finds many of which have been added to the site at a later date. Water management and control of mill ponds, sluice gates and the waterwheel are key to understanding the function of the site, which will hopefully be explored further in 2020 (or in 2021). The water management developed through time, reflecting different industrial requirements and fluctuating water supplies, with buildings probably occupying several sites in the valley and their locations captured through the map and field evidence.

SHAAS Research Team

SHAAS has an active research team providing essential background information to help guide the excavations to ensure maximum productivity. As an example of the team's work, they have uncovered the following history of our Powder Mill Lane sites:

The Southborough Valley used to be part of the South Frith estate and at that time there were Tudor iron workings, streams, forests and a deer park. Our site is shown on an early 17th Century map of Kent.

In 1553 David Willard built a forge for Sir Thomas Fane on our Powder Mill site. We call it Old Forge and we think it was originally built on the mill pond bay, now underneath a large modern barn. The forge worked in conjunction with Vauxhall Furnace from 1623-79 and refined smelted iron sent down river from the Furnace.

In 1763, the Forge was converted to a Pestle Forge, though we assume that iron working became unprofitable, as in 1771 or 1772, at Old Forge Farm, a gunpowder mill was set up by ‘a carpenter who had worked at Powder Mills at Battle'.

A corn mill replaced the powder mill in 1845 and may have been working as late as 1923, before being sold for scrap in 1932. The forge and mill locations changed through time with the new buildings either updating existing structures or being built specifically to meet their new functions.