In a detailed entry in the Kemsing Burial register Kemsing Saint Mary 1813-1911 held at Kent Archive and Library Maidstone (reference P205/1/E/1) there is an account of the interment service held to bury in consecrated ground two skeletons believed to be from the battle.
On 18 December 1880 a plough had disturbed the bones which were found in "field number 24 on the ordinance map 750 years west of the West End" of Saint Mary Kemsing. "The skeletons were lying one with feet to the east the other close by with feet to the West - a spearhead was afterwards found."
Reverend George Bridges Lewis the Vicar of Kemsing goes on to record "Probably they are remains of mankind at one of the battles of Otford at Danes Field a mill west of Otford in 1016".
There is no further account of what if any action was recorded by the local Coroner or of any archaeological investigation The second battle at Otford in 1016 is cited by the vicar as being probable for the Kemsing skeletons see Saxon Otford wikipedia.
On 24 December 1880 the two humans remains placed "with reverence" in a box and "interred in the churchyard near the North fence due north of the north buttress of the nave" had several prayers and collects as part of the ceremony conducted by the Vicar and assisted by the Parish Clerk.
My transcript of the Burial register will be published at Kent Online Parish Clerks Kemsing parish page in due course.
© Henry Mantell Downe and Farnborough Online Parish Clerk 2013-2020
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