Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

The cemetery and the streets were sealed with construction debris relating to the rebuilding of the wall in the 1380-90s and here the Roman wall did not survive above the level of the surface of the cemetary. Shortly after the rebuild a number of timber-framed buildings were erected 10.5m from the wall.

Monument Types

• CEMETERY (Medieval - 1101 AD to 1400 AD)

Full description

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During 1976-7 members of the Canterbury Archaeological Trust, led by Simon Pratt, excavated an area at the junction of Church Lane and St Radigund's Street in adavance of the creation of a public garden. The sitecode was STR76/77.
The work involved emptying a machine trench, located in front of and parallel to the wall, cut under the supervision of Frank Jenkins in 1975. A further trench was dug, in front of and at right angles to the city wall, in order to examine the Medieval and Roman town ditches.
During the excavation twelve major phases were defined, the earliest of which was a number of Roman features cut into river lain deposits.

The Roman city wall and rampart built in the late third century AD were revealed. The wall consisted of flints and faced with large, water rounded flints, sandstone boulders and re-used Roman building material. The north wall of St Mary Northgate was found to be almost entirely of Roman build to a height of 5.85. In front of the city wall no trace of a Roman ditch remained, having been cut away by the Medieval ditch.

A number of Saxon pits cut into the back of the rampart and after being infilled in the late Saxon period the back of the rampart was cut into by an intra-mural street. Several layers of metalling were found, possibly extending into the Early Norman period. Five coffined burials were cut into the street metalling and were probably associated with St Mary Northgate Church.

The cemetery and the streets were sealed with construction debris relating to the rebuilding of the wall in the 1380-90s and here the Roman wall did not survive above the level of the surface of the cemetary. Shortly after the rebuild a number of timber-framed buildings were erected 10.5m from the wall, elements of which still survive in Radigunds Hall, 9, Church Lane St Radigunds.
Evidence was also found of the 'common sewer' a series of timber lined drains carrying effluent from the great drain of Christ Church Priory along the now infilled ditch and emptying it into the river. Elements of buildings known to have been built in the second half of the 18th century, or earlier, were also uncovered during the excavation. During this period the Northgate was widened and the church was strengthened with columns below. A section of the city wall to the west of the excavated area was also demolished to provided direct access to St Radigund's Public Baths by the River. More was demolished in 1828-1830 toprovide room for new housing and the common sewer was replaced by abrick-vauled drain.
After 1830 a few rubbish pits were dug behind the wall and a number of large brick buildings, some with cellars, were constructed in front of the wall. Most of these buildings were for industrial purposes and were demolished in 1972.

Frere, SS, Stow, S, and Bennett, P, 1982, Excavations on the Roman and Medieval Defences of Canterbury. (Monograph). SKE28530.

Sources and further reading