COUNCIL FOR KENTISH ARCHAEOLOGY

There was a surprise waiting for Bromley's Deputy Mayor, Cllr. Mrs Jennifer Hillier at the Council for Kentish Archaeology's conference held at the Crofton Hall, Orpington on Saturday, April 5, this was when Brian Philp of West Wickham, Director of Excavations for the Bromley and West Kent Archaeological Group presented her with 80 Roman Coins.

These coins, along with about 180 others, had been looted without permission from Bromley Council - owned land from the sport's field at Sparrows Den, West Wickham.

The rugby pitches had been ploughed for the first time in many years following these raids on Council owned land, but was unable to prevent the Roman coins from being sold on or kept for private collections. The good news is, that one treasure hunter, unwilling to return them to the rightful owners (Bromley Borough), eventually agreed that his 80 coins could be bought by an archaeological supporter, who then offered to have them returned to the borough.

The Deputy Mayor said she was very grateful to the local archaeological volunteers and all concerned with the return of the coins and promised that Bromley Borough would safeguard them in the future.