Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Work associated with the A20 road and sewer scheme 1991-1993 revealed a series of Medieval cellars, including that of the Crypt restaurant on land previously occupied by No. 10 Bench Street, and to the west of Bench Street. Several periods of Medieval work comprising cellars and possible garderobe shafts were identified. (location accurate to the nearest 1m based on available information)

Monument Types

• CELLAR (Medieval - 1100 AD? to 1299 AD?)
• GARDEROBE (Medieval - 1100 AD? to 1299 AD?)
• UNDERCROFT (UNDERCROFT, Medieval - 1100 AD? to 1299 AD?)

Full description

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Excavations undertaken ahead of work to replace Dover's sewage system revealed a sequence of Medieval and post medieval levels and structures, on the site of the old Crypt Restaurant. The principal structure located is part of a stone-built medieval undercroft, with part of it's original vaulted roof surviving. (1)

The undercroft perhaps formed part of a rich merchant’s residence and a detailed study of the heavily restored fabric succeeded in identifying the presence of at least two separate periods of medieval work here. The main excavation was continued up to the western wall of the open Crypt basement and from this it was clear that the medieval cellars here were once rather more extensive, with several phases of filled-in vaulted chamber being located in the trench. The structural sequence was complex with two previously detached (?) garderobe shafts subsequently being cleaned out, floored and connected to the main cellar complex by a linking passage creating a long, tunnel-like, extension to the original cellars. Later, this extension was filled in and the cellars reverted to more or less their original size. The dating evidence suggests that the cellars are of thirteenth - fourteenth century date and it is clear that these deeply excavated features destroyed a well-stratified sequence of earlier Medieval deposits in this area. (2)

Additional information (3)

Environmental assessment report on the Dover A20 sewer scheme (4)

<1> CAT Annual Report, 1990-1. (OS Card Reference). SKE38714.

<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 1991-1992, Canterbury's Archaeology, Sites Outside Canterbury 1991-1992, CAT Annual Report, 1990-1. (Article in serial). SKE31645.

<2> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2001, Dover Sewers/A20 Project 1991–3, Assessment Report and Updated Project Design (Unpublished document). SKE31815.

<3> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 1992, Progress Report on the A20/Dover Sewers Project (Unpublished document). SKE8164.

<4> Institute of Archaeology, University College London, 1993, Dover A20 & sewer scheme environmental assessment report (Unpublished document). SKE31642.

Sources and further reading

Related records