Romano-Celtic temple at Watling, Newington

The Romano-Celtic temple at Watling in Newington stands on the site of a former Roman town beside the modern A2 road. Archaeologists uncovered the remains in 2019 during a dig across 18 acres. They found iron furnaces, pottery kilns, a temple and a 7-metre-wide Roman road. Late Iron Age remains from 30 BC were also discovered. The temple site lies close to Watling Street, a famous Roman route, but the newly found road follows a different path. The temple foundations were reconstructed in 2021 by Newington History Group, SWAT Archaeology and Persimmon Homes South East. The model matches the original in size and alignment and sits 70 metres from the excavation. A footpath follows the line of the ancient road leading to the temple. The display is free to view in a landscaped plot in the village. Visitors walk along the footpath to the reconstructed foundations. The landscaped plot keeps the temple remains visible above ground. The nearby homes of Watling Place sit above the original excavation area. The temple’s setting reflects its place in a once-busy manufacturing town. The remains and reconstruction offer a quiet glimpse into Kent’s Roman past.