Roman tombs' rare opening

10:10am Thursday 13th September 2001

ROMAN stone-built tombs discovered in Keston are opening to the public.

The two tombs, at Warbank, Westerham Road, were last open to public view in September 2000 the first time since 1980.

Andy and Viv O'Keefe, whose garden surrounds the site, are giving the public a second chance to see them as part of the London Open House scheme.

Visitors can see the large circular Roman tomb, built of flints and tile in about AD 200 with its six radiating buttresses. Adjacent is a smaller rectangular tomb which contained a carved stone coffin.

The tombs relate to the nearby Roman villa-house and 1,000 acre farming estate, which was active in the valley 1,800 years ago. The villa is now under grass.

Volunteer archaeologists from the Kent Archaeological Unit and the Bromley and West Kent Archaeological Group will give free guided talks about the tombs.

The open day is on September 23, 10am to 5pm. For information, call 020 8462 4737.