Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

In 16 Burgate, an adjacent property, digging had revealed 'the remains of a monastic wall' it was agreed at the time that the remains should be replaced in situ in the cellar.

Monument Types

• WALL (Medieval - 1300 AD? to 1400 AD?)

Full description

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A watching brief was undertaken in March 1950 by Frank Jenkins during the construction of a block of flats between Nos. 16-24 Burgate Street.

The absence of any evidence for Roman structures was interpreted as indicating that the area was kept as open space during the Roman period. A good test section was provided by a drain trench dug in the cellar of 23 Burgate, at the extreme west end of the excavated area. It was dug from the cellar floor, 1.68m. Below street level, at right-angles to the street for a distance of 2.59m, and continued for a further 7ft 6in. As a tunnel beneath the modern roadway. The average depth was 5ft., that is 3.2m below street level. The lowest layer uncovered was natural brickearth, overlain by dark greyish brown loam mixed with minute fragments of carbonized vegetable matter and 25cm thick. Over this was a dump of soil containing Roman building debris, 0.53m. In thickness. This was overlain by a dark greyish-brown soil seen in past excavations and dated to the 4th century. No trace was seen of a Roman predecessor to the modern street.

Beneath the sites of Nos. 17 and 18 Burgate Street four stake-holes ranging from 1ft 6in to 3ft deep were seen in the surface of the natural brickearth, and at 10ft from ground level. From the labourers descriptions these holes suddenly appeared in the natural surface. In consequence they seem to be of early date, and were possibly Belgic, for traces of Belgic huts have been found on the south side of the street opposite this site.

In 16 Burgate, an adjacent property, digging had revealed 'the remains of a monastic wall' it was agreed at the time that the remains should be replaced in situ in the cellar.

Gardiner, D., 1950, Minutes of a General Committee Meeting Held at Cogan House on Wednesday August 2nd 1950 (Unpublished document). SKE30504.

Jenkins, F., 1951, Archaeological Notebook, Canterbury 1949-1951 (Serial). SKE29983.

Andrews, G., 1985, The Archaeology of Canterbury: An Assessment (Unpublished document). SKE30429.

Sources and further reading