Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Much evidence was found for the existence of a bakery in part of the building with three circular bread -ovens, carefully built of tiles pitched in clay. The bakery went out of use in the 15th century and the building was rebuilt on the same alignment.

Monument Types

• BAKERY? (Medieval - 1201 AD? to 1300 AD?)

Full description

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In April 1949 The Canterbury Excavation Committee excavated four trenches on the site of the current 51, Burgate Street, the dig was coded CXIV M.
In trench I and Ib (this became a single trench) Roman layers survived, including a pebbble floor, at the extreme north end of the trench. There was also a large pit and a badly damaged opus signinum floor. The opus signinum floor was covered by a layer of ash and demolition debris, datin to c. 350 AD.

All subsequent levels were post-Roman and included more floor surfaces,a hearth and a post hole and rubbish pits. Sealing the pits was a succession of buildings dating from the 14th century to modern times. Throughout successive rebuildings three rooms were present in the trench, and are numbered 1-3 from the south towards the north. Much evidence was found for the existence of a bakery in part of the building with three circular bread -ovens, carefully built of tiles pitched in clay. The bakery went out of use in the 15th century and the building was rebuilt on the same alignment.

During 1948 four small areas were examined, by S. Frere, in Site C XIV M, which lay to the east of site CXL in cellars off of 56 Burgate Street, close to the trench near the corner of Iron Bar Lane at TR 15090 57782. Two of the trenches Trench I -1B (TR 21) were dug to the rear of the cellar, here there was much disturbance by medieval pits at lower levels. It was only at the extreme north end of Trench I that any Roman levels lay directly under the cellar floor. Here evidence of the floor of a Roman timber? Building and a later re-flooring were excavated. All subsequent levels were of post-Roman date.

Floors and a hearth of early 11th century date were recorded and 13th century rubbish pits were excavated. Sealing the pits were a succession of medieval and later buildings dating from the 14th century to modern times. Throughout the life of the structure three rooms appear to be represented within the trench. In Period I part of the building was a bakehouse with a sequence of three circular bread-ovens. During the 15th century, Period II, the building ceased being a bake-house, and was utalised for other domestic purposes.

Frere, S. S and Stow, S., 1983, Excavations in the St. George's Street and Burgate Street Areas. (Monograph). SKE29967.

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

Sources and further reading