Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Rectilinear enclosures visible as cropmarks in aerial photos of 1990, to the west of Westwood. Excavated in 2011 or 2012 and found to date from the 13th or 14th century, though with evidence of earlier activity on the site.

Monument Types

• GRUBENHAUS (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon to Medieval - 1000 AD to 1200 AD)
• PIT (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon to Medieval - 1000 AD to 1400 AD)
• POST HOLE (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon to Medieval - 1000 AD to 1400 AD)
• QUARRY (Medieval - 1200 AD to 1400 AD)
• RECTILINEAR ENCLOSURE (Medieval - 1200 AD to 1400 AD)
• WELL (Medieval - 1200 AD to 1400 AD)

Associated Finds

• SHERD (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon to Medieval - 1000 AD to 1400 AD)
• BUCKLE (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1200 AD to 1650 AD)
• VESSEL (Medieval - 1225 AD to 1350 AD)
• KEY (LOCKING) (Medieval - 1300 AD to 1500 AD)
• BUCKLE (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1450 AD to 1700 AD)

Full description

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Rectilinear enclosures visible as cropmarks in aerial photos of 1990, to the west of Westwood. One enclosure measures 35m square, another 35m x 30m, and a third which adjions it measures 35m x 22m with a kink along the SE side. The enclosures are either side of an 8m wide trackway. All enclosures are aligned 45 degrees to the cardinal points, the same as enclosures to the north (TR 36 NE 279). There are hints of further enclosures / linear features in the field to the south, though on a different alignment. See also TR 36 NE 279 and TR 36 NE 452. See also (1)

An evaluation by Archaeology South-East in 2011 found the ditches dating to the 13th and 14th century. (2)

In 2011 or 2012 Wessex Archaeology carried out a strip, map and sample excavation of the site. The enclosures were found to date to the medieval period, with pottery in the enclosure ditches dating to the 13th and 14th centuries. It is possible though that the site was in use from an earlier date, given the presence of a sunken featured building thought to date from the 11th or 12th century and perhaps used as a bakery. An intact vessel was found within a small enclosure associated with a post hole. It was not associated with any cremated remains and so may have formed some other type of ritual deposit. (3)

<1> Trust For Thanet Archaeology, 1995, Thanet Reach Business Park Development: Archaeological Implications. A Desk Based Study (Unpublished document). SWX7097.

<2> CgMs Consulting, 2011, An Archaeological Evaluation at Land at Westwood, Broadstairs, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE17801.

<3> CgMs Consulting, 2012, Strip, Map and Sample Excavation: Post Excavation Assessment Report: Land at Star Lane, Westwood, Thanet, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE17798.

Sources and further reading