Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

During the clearance of a war damaged site at Yewdens Court (now demolished) in 1952 a large ditch and foundation trench was uncovered. When first uncovered the ditch and foundation trench were thought ot be of a Medieval date but later excavations at the site suggests that this was the western defensive ditch of the late Roman Saxon Shore Fort, and the foundation trench is for the fort wall. (location accurate to the nearest 10m based on available information)

Monument Types

• DITCH (Roman - 270 AD to 330 AD?)
• Wall Foundation (Roman - 270 AD? to 330 AD?)

Full description

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During the clearance of a war damaged site at Yewdens Court (now demolished), near New Street, in 1952 a large ditch and foundation trench was uncovered. The ditch cut earlier Roman features of a possible second century date and had been levelled in the early 19th century. The foundation trench was packed with large flints which have been interpreted as being builder’s debris from the construction of the wall which would have been situated in this trench. Aside from this builders debris, no trace of the wall for which this trench was excavated, was uncovered. (1) when first excavated this ditch was presumed to have been associated with Dover's Medieval town wall, later excavations undertaken by KARU have however revealed that it is the defensive outer ditch of the late Roman Saxon Shorefort. (2)

<1> L. Murray Threipland, 1957, Archaeologia Cantiana, Excavations in Dover Vol. 71 (Article in serial). SKE31703.

<2> Brian Philp., 2003, The Discovery and Excavation of Anglo Saxon Dover (Monograph). SKE31831.

Sources and further reading

Related records