Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Two Medieval walls and a demolition layer containing Medieval building material was located during excavations undertaken by Canterbury Archaeological Trust in 1992 beneath Connaught Hall, Dover (location accurate to the nearest 2m based on available information).

Monument Types

• CELLAR (Medieval - 1202 AD to 1539 AD?)
• DEMOLITION LAYER (Medieval - 1202 AD? to 1539 AD?)
• WALL (Medieval - 1202 AD to 1539 AD)

Full description

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In August 1992, contractors began the excavation of a large rectangular pit in the floor of the old museum for the insertion of a lift. This provided a rare opportunity for archaeological investigation at the site. The excavation revealed the massive footing of the present Connaught Hall and a contemporary disused cellar with a vaulted roof. These foundations cut a demolition layer which contained a quantity of fragmentary Medieval building stone. An area of in tact stratification was revealed in the south face of the shaft and this included a section of a stone built Medieval wall running north south, which had been largely cut away by a robber pit. The wall was made of mortared flint with occasional chalk lumps in the core. On the northern side, in the base of the robber pit, another Medieval wall was located. This was of different construction and aligned east-west. It was 0.58m wide, buit of large, roughly squared greensand blocks set in mortar and was traced for a distance of 1.60m. The two Medieval walls clearly formed parts of a larger structure. They may have formed part of the 'Pump Yard' or the 'Coale House'.(1)

<1> Paul Bennett, 1993, Archaeologia Cantiana: Interim Report on work carried out in 1993 by the Canterbury Archaeological Trust Vol. 112 (Article in serial). SKE31772.

Sources and further reading

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