Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

During works associated with the A20 road and sewer scheme a watching brief and building recording was undertaken by Appledore works (formerly The Packet Yard) . The features uncovered include large 18th-19th century chalk vaulted cellars with graffiti on the walls. (location accurate to the nearest 1m based on available information).

Monument Types

• CELLAR (chalk vaulted, Post Medieval - 1700 AD? to 1899 AD?)

Full description

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This project consisted of a major archaeological watching brief and excavation programme, conducted across an extensive part of the maritime and water-front areas of this important historic town, ahead of major road construction and sewer trenching, between the summer of 1991 and the spring of 1993. There were 21 areas of archaeological investigation: the 9th was the old Appledore Engineering works (formerly The Packet Yard) on eastern side of the railway. A watching brief and building recording was undertaken ahead of road works.

Following demolition of the Appledore Woks the contractors had pushed into part of the vaulted cellars below the west side of the complex. Two large vaulted rooms were exposed with the roofing intact only in the northern quarter. The two rooms were of a similar size, measuring internally 25.5m (N-S) by 4.9m (E-W) and they were 2.25m high at the vaults centre. They were separated by a central party wall 0.45m in thickness. The walls of the cellars were of either squared chalk block or red brick, both were set in a dark grey mortar with frequent coal and lime specks. The roof vaults were made entirely of neatly cut chalk voussoir blocks. A series of square concrete piers had been subsequently inserted at intervals to support the roof along its centre line. There was little evidence as to the use of the cellars; the west vault had a small room at the northern end measuring 4.7m (N-S) by 4.9m (E-W) this had been created by the insertion of a later brick cross-wall. A flight of wooden steps led into this room from ground level. In the east vault a large amount of furnace fire bricks, of a modern looking type lay on the floor, these must be related to the latest use of this cellar.

The chalk walls and roof of the vaults carried a whole series of dates and initials. These were best preserved at the northern end where the cellars were largely intact. The earliest date in the west vault was 1805. There were many more inscription in the east vault, the earliest here were 1800, 1801, 1802, 1770, 1797 and 1799. The date of 1770 is not completely certain as the second 7 was rather worn and damaged. The dates of 1790’s are clear, demonstrating that the vaults are of 18th century date. (1)

<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2001, Dover Sewers/A20 Project 1991–3, Assessment Report and Updated Project Design (Unpublished document). SKE31815.

Sources and further reading