Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A Saxon cemetery at Priory Hill, Dover was first located in the 1880's but only limited archaeological investigation took place. Further Saxon graves (5 in total) were located and excavated by Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit in the 1980's, much of the cemetery has possibly been destroyed by post medieval housing. (location accurate to the nearest 100m based on available information).

The site lies mid-way down a steep south-east facing slope. OD 15-25m.

Monument Types

• CEMETERY (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 410 AD to 1065 AD)

Associated Finds

• BROOCH (Roman to Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 400 AD to 525 AD)
• ARMLET (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 410 AD to 1065 AD)
• BRACELET (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 410 AD to 1065 AD)
• RING (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 410 AD to 1065 AD)
• SPEAR (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 410 AD to 1065 AD)
• SWORD (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 410 AD to 1065 AD)
• KNIFE (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD? to 799 AD?)
• HUMAN REMAINS (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 550 AD to 725 AD)
• STRAP FITTING (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 550 AD? to 699 AD?)
• BUCKLE (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 575 AD? to 625 AD?)

Full description

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Anglo Saxon inhumation cemetery. 1883: unfortunately only sparse records exist for the discovery of these graves, the records state that Anglo Saxon human Skeletons where uncovered during the excavation of foundations of Priory Hill. With these human skeletons were swords and spears in fragmentary condition. At the head of one of the burials were many limpet shells and in another many jasper stones. A jewelled disk brooch (TR 34 SW 224) with a star centre, of early 7th century date was also located and has since been stolen. In 1956 a further grave with bracelet, ring & pottery bead less than 180m from 1889 finds. Other finds from the Priory Hill possibly destroyed in WWII.

Two copper alloy Anglo Saxon Armlets and A fibular Brooch were also found and donated to Dover Museum (where they are still located) in 1883, they are noted as coming from the grounds of Dover Priory/Priory Hill. (1)

5 further graves of Anglo Saxon date were uncovered on Priory Hill by Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit between 1986 and 1988. They were located within the houses and gardens of 48, 64 and 68 Priory Hill. The information gathered has shown that the cemetery was in use between the 6th and 8th centuries. The finds uncovered include 3 iron knives, an iron spearhead, an iron belt plate fitting and a bronze buckle loop. It is likely that more graves survive under the houses and gardens of the properties on Priory Hill. (2)

The Victoria County History of Kent Volume 1 notes that during the excavations for the houses on Priory Hill in 1889, fragments of swords and spears alongside limpet shells and jasper stones were found in graves. (3)

Andrew Richardson, 2000, Gazetteer of Anglo-Saxon Cemeteries and Burial-Sites in Kent (Unpublished document). SKE29253.

<1> Dover Museum, 2017, Dover Museum Accession Books (Collection). SKE32383.

<2> John Willson, 1988, Kent Archaeological Review: Saxon Burials from Priory Hill Dover. Vol. 94 (Article in serial). SKE31919.

<3> Page, W. (ed), 1908, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Kent Volumne I (Monograph). SKE7882.

Sources and further reading

Related records