Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A number of medieval features were recorded during evaluation work in the fields east of St. Gregory's RC Primary School. The foundations of two buildings were observed during trenching, along with a number of ditches; one of which may have been a boundary ditch, another a palisade trench.

Monument Types

• PIT? (Unknown date)
• BOUNDARY DITCH (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD (at some time))
• BUILDING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD (at some time))
• PALISADE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD (at some time))

Associated Finds

• ANIMAL REMAINS (Medieval - 1066 AD? to 1539 AD?)
• POTTERY ASSEMBLAGE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• QUERN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• TILE (Medieval - 1066 AD? to 1539 AD?)

Full description

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An evaluation in 2000 recorded the foundations of two possible medieval buildings, sealed by demolition deposits (centred on 635414,169356). The foundations labelled 'Building 1' were sealed by post medieval demolition deposits, indicating that the building was demolished in the post medieval period. The report suggests that the ruin of the medieval building may have been re-used as cottages (marked on a 19th century map of Salmestone Grange) that were in turn demolished in the early 19th century.
Evidence from the deposits covering 'Building 2' suggest it may have been robbed out in the medieval period and the foundation trenches backfilled with building debris and domestic refuse, including the skull of a cow and a bronze cauldron.
Both buildings were built in a similar way using faced flint and chalk, bonded with a shelly, chalky mortar. Part of the foundation wall for 'Building 2' also incorporated ashlar blocks. The surviving construction evidence supports the theory that the walls are of probable medieval date, forming buildings possibly associated with the adjacent Salmestone Grange complex.
The larger ditches recorded during the evaluation were of a similar size and construction, indicative that they were part of the same phase of activity. A number of these were recorded in trenches on the eastern side of the site and the report suggests that they may have formed part of a continuous boundary ditch. Medieval pottery was recovered from this feature, along with a residual? sherd of late saxon pottery. A narrow ditch recorded in the northern half of the site also contained medieval pottery. It has been interpreted as a palisade trench due to its size and profile, a continuation of it may have been recorded in an adjacent trench. A number of other ditches were picked up during the evaluation trenching, some contained no finds, others did contain medieval pottery, the general consenus of the report being that all the ditches probably related to medieval activity (centred on 635450,169485). Many of the features may also relate to the cropmark layer found in KCC Heritage GIS projects [1- see also cropmark monuments TR 36 NE 74 and 100].

See also the early medieval cemetery? (TR 36 NE 434) and possible chalk quarry pits (TR 36 NE 435), recorded during the evaluation work.

Geophysical survey of the surrounding area. It did not pick the buildings up, although further linear features were identified (see TR 36 NE 436). [2].

Archaeological assessment report [3,4].

Second geophysical survey. Further areas of archaeological potential were identified [5].

<1> Trust for Thanet Archaeology, 2000, An Archaeological Evaluation Carried Out On Land Adjacent Nash Road And Salmestone Grange, St. Johns Parish, Margate, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE12691.

<2> Stratascan, 2000, Geophysical survey carried out at Salmestone Grange, Nash Road, Margate, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE12704.

<3> John Samuels Archaeological Consultants, Thanet Local Plan. Archaeology Proof of Evidence, Nash Road, Margate (Unpublished document). SKE12714.

<4> John Samuels Archaeological Consultants, 2004, Thanet Local Plan, Nash Road, Margate, Appendices to Archaeology Proof of Evidence by Daniel Slatcher BA, MA, MIFA (Unpublished document). SKE12715.

<5> Stratascan, Salmestone Grange, Margate, Kent. Geophysical Survey Report, 2004. (Unpublished document). SKE12716.

Sources and further reading