Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Much of the ground plan of a large medieval building, possibly a church, was revealed, believed to possibly that of the Austin Friary. Its date is certainly later than a 13th century rubbish pit which had been partially destroyed when the foundations of the building were excavated.

Monument Types

• STRUCTURE (13th Century AD, Undated)

Full description

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Foundation trenches dug during the rebuilding of Nos 22-4 St George’s Street revealed a cambered spread of rammed gravel lying at a depth of nearly 9ft below present day ground level over a thin band of dark brown loam which represented the earliest occupation deposit. Another section of the same gravel was seen in a drain trench at the same level a few yards to the south under what is now the service road at the rear of the premises. As both sections of gravel are in direct alignment with the Roman Street under Woolworths building to the north, it is clear that they belong to the same street which if the line is extended southwards would join Roman Watling Street at a point just within the Riding Gate.

Also much of the ground plan of a large medieval building, possibly a church, was revealed, believed to possibly that of the Austin Friary. Its date is certainly later than a 13th century rubbish pit which had been partially destroyed when the foundations of the building were excavated. North of the building were a number of graves which must have been the lay cemetery.

Jenkins, F., Miscellaneous Sites in Canterbury 1951-1954 (Unpublished document). SKE30431.

Andrews, G., 1985, The Archaeology of Canterbury: An Assessment (Unpublished document).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

Sources and further reading