Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Three walls of Medieval date were uncovered during the excavation of a cable trench in front of Maison Dieu House, High Street, Dover. (location accurate to the nearest 10m based on available information).

Monument Types

• WALL (Medieval - 1066 AD? to 1539 AD?)

Associated Finds

• ROOF SLATE (Undated)
• PEG TILE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)

Full description

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During October/November 1992, a cable trench was dug westwards from the front of Maison Dieu House, to the north-eastern pavement of Biggnin Street. Three ancient walls were exposed under the Biggin Street pavement. From the mortar used in two of these walls, it seems fairly certain, they are of Medieval date (one also contained fragments of slate and peg tile). (1)

It seems probable that these walls were contemporary with each other and that they joined at an approximate right angle to form the south-west corner of a structure. From the depth of one (0.40m) it does not seem to have been a cellered structure and it seems most probable that the walls belonged to the outer boundary wall of the Medieval hospital complex. (2)

<1> Keith Parfitt, 1993, Canterbury Archaeology, 1992-1993: Fieldwork: Sites in Dover. Vol 18. (Article in serial). SKE31774.

<2> 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