Monument record TR 15 NW 2582 - Medieval and post-medieval activity, rear of 44 St Peter's Street, Canterbury

An archaeological evaluation followed by a watching brief carried out in 2002 revealed evidence of a late medieval or early post-medieval wall structure. Information from the watching brief revealed that the dwarf wall and mid-17th - 18th century clay and chalk floors had been uncovered during the earlier evaluation at the site.

One of the post-medieval walls was aligned NE-SW, and comprised a dwarf wall thought to represent a continuation of the wall identified through the evaluation at the site. Another wall was aligned NW-SE, and was located abutting the first wall, standing at right angles to the first wall and made from similar material. The walls varied between 0.30-0.39m in width, and measured between at least 6.32-10.73m in length. The walls comprised flint and chalk and were thought to have been associated with a large building on the site possibly dating from the late medieval/post-medieval period. Garden soils at the site were thought to overlie a demolition horizon associated with the abandonment and destruction of the building.

Post-medieval features at the site also comprised a late post-medieval drainage ditch which truncated the wall, and late post-medieval pits.

The drainage ditch was aligned NW-SE and measured at least 8.6x0.7-0.95x0.55m. The 5 post-medieval - modern pits measured between 1.49-1.85m in width and contained inclusions of chalk, flint, brick, and tile within their fills. The ditch and pits had also been previously identified through the earlier archaeological evaluation at the site. (1, 2)

<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2002, Archaeological evaluation of Land to the Rear of 44 St Peter's Street fronting Tower Way, Canterbury. (Unpublished document). SKE54964.

<2> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2002, Archaeological watching brief of ground works to the rear of 44 St Peter's Street fronting Tower Way, Canterbury (Unpublished document). SKE54982.