During a watching brief carried out in 2006 during redevelopment of the village hall site, a series of ditches and pits were discovered that were interpreted as being Anglo-Saxon in date. It was suggested that they may have represented part of the defences of the settlement.

The earliest feature recorded was a post pit cut into the natural subsoil, suggesting the previous erection of a wooden structure on the site. A possible boundary line or trackway running to the river suggests either a defensive line of an Anglo-Saxon structure or settlement, combined with finds from the later Anlgo-Saxon period like three fragments of Saxon pottery found in ditch three and the dumping of burnt materials found in pit three suggest the occupation of the site in the later Anglo-Saxon period.

The recutting of boundary lines found in ditch three and partiallly ditch two suggest either a redifnition of land boundaries, defensive construction or drainage. The possibility of these ditches having defensive significance is due to the commonality of re-cutting occuring during times of widening and re-fortifying, considering as well that the security of a town situated in the 'frontline' county of Kent would have been paramount for settlement.

The cutting of the trenches and excavation of such was completed without archaeological supervision. On top of this the watching brief began after such works had been completed and so a clear understanding is difficult to obtain, making the results more hypothetical. (1)

<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2006, An Archaeological Watching Brief during the Extensions and Alterations to the existing Village Hall at School Lane, Fordwich, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE51910.