The site of Franklyn House was evaluated and then excavated by the Canterbury Archaeological Trust in 2011/12 in advance of redevelopment for retirement accommodation.

A single evaluation trench was excavated in advance of redevelopment south of the main building. A large feature sealed by a metalled yard was found associated with a building of probable medieval date that was evidenced by walls and clay floors. This was replaced by a post-medieval building which was destroyed in the Second World War (2)

Subsequently, the site was excavated. The excavation consisted of three areas and two trenches. The earliest discoveries consisted of 12th/13th stakeholes and postholes forming structures close to the High Street. Behind these were refuse pits containing domestic material dating to c. AD 1100 - 1175. These were replaced by two clay-floored buildings, each of which contained a hearth. These were constructed c. AD 1150 -1250 and were typical of small dwellings. A significant quantity of animal bone was also recovered including cattle, sheep, goat, pig, dog and fish. The pottery assemblage consisted of sandy ware types and dated from the late 11th century though most of the assemblage was from the mid-12th century onwards.

By the 15th century the domestic buildings were replaced by a single large building that was likely to have been a store building. The building was eventually replaced by post-medieval houses and shops and eventually the Red Lion pub. The pub was probably much damaged by a German parachute mine that devastated Sturry on 18th November 1941. (1)

<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2016, The medieval to post-medieval vill of Sturry: excavations at the former Fordwich Garage, Water Lane and Franklyn House, High Street, Sturry (Article in serial). SKE51663.

<2> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2011, Franklyn house, High Street, Sturry, Kent: archaeological evaluation report (Unpublished document). SKE51665.