Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Excavations during development of the Marlowe car park located an Iron Age ditch; a sequence of Roman buildings, the last of which in the 4th century has an opus signinum floor and a tessellated corridor; Early Medieval 6th-7th century grubenhauser overlain by a later Early Medieval timber structure which in turn was superceded by a Medieval 11th-12th century timber-framed hall. By the 13th century a stone building and street frontage had been constructed.

Monument Types

• DITCH (DITCH, Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
• BUILDING (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• CLAY WORKINGS (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• FINDSPOT (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon to Medieval - 410 AD to 1066 AD)
• GRUBENHAUS (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon to Medieval - 410 AD to 1066 AD)
• HALL HOUSE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1199 AD)

Associated Finds

• BROOCH (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 410 AD to 599 AD)
• COMB (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 410 AD to 599 AD)

Full description

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(TR 14895761 sited from plan CAT Ann Rep 1979-80 p.6). Belgic, Roman, Saxon and Medieval Multiperiod site - Marlowe I. Excavations took place between April and October 1978 at the rear of No 16 Watling Street as the first stage at the Marlowe Car Park Excavation. The earliest occupation consisted of a Belgic ditch which was later backfilled, and the area quarried for clay just after the conquest. Overlying these levels were a complex sequence of Roman buildings dating to the first and second centuries AD, all being timber built apart from one. In the second half of the fourth century a masonry building with an opus signinum floor and tessellated corridor was constructed. A rare bronze mitre-square was found. A layer of black loam covered the site in the fifth century. The Saxon period is represented by six 6th-7th century sunken- floored huts, with one of later Saxon date. Along with collections of Saxon pottery these levels produced decorated bone combs, weaving equipment, a small tinned square-headed brooch and a fish and bird zoomorphic bronze belt fitting. Overlying the Saxon huts was a late Saxon timber structure which was in turn superceded by a large 'hall type' timber-framed building dated to the 11th-12th centuries. By the end of the 13th century a large stone building with a narrow street running parallel to it was constructed. This fine sequence of buildings and associated levels was sealed by a thick deposit of garden soil during the late 16th-17th centuries. (1-8)

From the Register of Scheduled Monuments:

The Marlowe car park site with a wealth of Roman remains found and slightly examined by Frere.

An extension to the existing area discussed with the DC at the meeting held over the development to include ? of the area held by a private company. Also as discussed at the meeting another car park with known archaeological sites and the next area of Canterbury to be developed after Marlowe. Thus there are a total of 3 new area. Car park area within Roman town. Some areas excavated (see sketch plan).

(12/04/89) (9)

<1> Cant Arch Trust Ann Rep 1978-9 5-6 (K Blockley and M Day) (OS Card Reference). SKE38492.

<2> Brit 10 1979 336 (R Goodburn) (OS Card Reference). SKE38296.

<3> Brit 11 1980 413 (M Hassall and R Tomlin) (OS Card Reference). SKE38302.

<4> Med Arch 24 1980 225-6 plan (LE Webster and J Cherry) (OS Card Reference). SKE46760.

<5> Arch Cant 94 1978 273-5 plan photos (K Blockley and M Day) (OS Card Reference). SKE36192.

<6> Res News 19 Sept 79 4 (M Day) (OS Card Reference). SKE49174.

<7> Current Arch 80 No 9 Dec 1981 269-75 (OS Card Reference). SKE39526.

<8> CBA Arch in Britain 1978 66 (OS Card Reference). SKE38755.

<9> English Heritage, Register of Scheduled Monuments (Scheduling record). SKE16191.

Sources and further reading