Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

During excavations at the Grand Shaft entrance courtyard, off Snargate Street, a burial vault associated with the Wesleyan Chapel which used to be situated on Snargate Street, was located. (location accurate to the nearest 5m based on available information).

Monument Types

• BURIAL VAULT (Post Medieval to Modern - 1834 AD? to 1962 AD? (between))

Full description

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Test pitting was undertaken by Canterbury Archaeological Trust, in the entrance courtyard to the Grand Shaft off Snargate Street in 1994. A small excavation on the outside of the north-east boundary wall to the shaft complex was conducted, this was intended to ascertain the depth of a section of brick underpinning supporting part of the exposed wall foundations. This demonstrated that the underpinning, in fact related to a subterranean brick structure, partially built into the base of the boundary wall. Given that this area was formerly occupied by the Wesleyan Chapel, it seems likely that the structure represents a burial vault. Excavation in the south corner of the structure indicated that it continued for at least another 0.4m. The filling of the structure was loosely compacted grey loam with chalk and red brick rubble. It would seem that, if the brick structure does represent a burial vault, it has been previously emptied and backfilled. Other vaults may exist in the area and could be exposed during further excavation work on the site. (1)

<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 1994, The Dover Grand Shaft Project Snargate Street Entrance Report on Second Phase Ground Works (Unpublished document). SKE8368.

Sources and further reading

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