Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Cellar B as investigated by the excavation of three small trenches. In Trench I was a Saxon pit and a further four pits were found in Trench II, two were of Roman date whilst two were Medieval. One medieval pit dated to c. 1050-1100 was emptied during the excavation.

Monument Types

• PIT (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon to Medieval - 1050 AD? to 1100 AD?)
• PIT (Medieval - 1201 AD to 1300 AD)

Full description

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In April 1950 three cellars fronting onto Watling Street, east of its junction with St Margaret's Street and west of Rose Lane were excavated. The excavation was coded CXVI A, B and C.

Cellar A lay on the south side of the street, whilst cellars B and C lay on the north.

Two trenches were excavated in Cellar A. Trench I was at the northern end and the natural subsoil as overlain by a peaty deposit, seen in the base of a pit, probably Roman in date and thought to be a result of brickearth quarrying. Earlier pits were present in Trench II. A series of loam and mortar tips lay above the peat, of Roman date and presumably deliberately deposited to infill and level the pit. A Saxon pit was also found in Trench I as well as one of probable Medieval date. Trench II was very disturbed by modern features, the only archaeological features were a post-hole adjoining a Belgic pit, and a second pit containing Roman sherds.

Cellar B as investigated by the excavation of three small trenches. In Trench I was a Saxon pit and a further four pits were found in Trench II, two were of Roman date whilst two were Medieval. One medieval pit dated to c. 1050-1100 was emptied during the excavation.

A single small trench was dug in Cellar C and was found to be very disturbed by modern drains. However, overlying a deposit of dark charcoally occupation earth which yeilded Belgic pottery sherds, was a loam floor of Roman date was seen in the north end of the trench covered by occupation material.

Andrews, G., 1985, The Archaeology of Canterbury: An Assessment (Unpublished document).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

Frere, S., Bennett, P., Rady, J., Stow, S., 1987, Excavations Intra- and Extra-mural Sites 1949-55 and 1980-84 (Monograph). SKE29800.

Sources and further reading