Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

In the Saxon or early Medieval period the Roman defences seem to have fallen into decay, a gravel street with a hard well-packed surface was laid over the tail on the Roman bank. It was bordered on its east side by a drainage-channle which was filled with dark earth and small flints.

Monument Types

• ROAD (Medieval - 1301 AD? to 1400 AD?)

Full description

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In summer 1954 The Canterbury Excavation Committee dug a trench in Burgate Lane coded CXXVI CW. The trench measured 9.15m by 1.52m and was cut at right angles against the interior of the city wall to the north of the Zoar Chapel.

The Roman wall was found to still be standing at a height of c. 2.44m and the Roman bank was contemporary with it. In the Saxon or early Medieval period the Roman defences seem to have fallen into decay, a gravel street with a hard well-packed surface was laid over the tail on the Roman bank. It was bordered on its east side by a drainage-channle which was filled with dark earth and small flints. The road was probably not in use for long, for the metalling was thin and there was no evidence for resurfacing. It was sealed by by a later thickish occupation layer containing one elventh to twelfth century pottery sherd. In the 11th or 12th century an oven was cut into the soil sealing the road clearly showing that it had gone out of use by that time.

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

Sources and further reading