A range of pits and possible post-holes spanning the late 13th to 15th centuries were discovered during evaluation trenching that was carried out off Fairfield Road, New Romney. These provide further evidence of probable domestic activity at the site and fits well with similar evidence at recently excavated sites immediately to the northeast and southeast.

In detail trench one contained an irregular pit with maximum visible dimensions of 1.3m x 1.4m. The full depth of this feature was not established, although it was in excess of 190mm deep and had moderately steeply sloped sides. It was filled with a firm dark grey fine sandy-silt that contained a range of artefacts including medieval pottery, tile, bone, shell and iron. A smaller pit or posthole lay just to the south of the first pit and was only partially exposed, but had a maximum visible width of 400mm.

In trench 2 Pit 15 was only partially exposed, but measured at least 0.66m x 1.04m in plan and 250mm deep. It was filled by a firm mid brown silty-sand that contained a small quantity of shingle, medieval pottery, bone and shell. To the west, Pit 17 was partially exposed and measured at least 0.68m x 0.88m in plan and 300mm deep. It was filled by a firm mid brown silty-sand that contained a small quantity of shingle, medieval pottery, bone shell and iron. South of these two pits a smaller pit or post-hole was identified. This was oval in shape, measuring 380mm x 520mm and 200mm deep. It was filled by a mid yellowbrown silty-sand (Context 20) that contained occasional shingle, but no artefacts. A small pit or post-hole was partially revealed at the south-western corner of the trench. Its maximum exposed dimensions were 340mm x 260mm and in excess of 250mm deep. The confined conditions resulted in the full extent of the feature not being established, however three fills were identified. The upper fill comprised a compact dark brown silty-sand that contained a small quantity of tile and iron. A circular post-hole with a diameter of 200mm lay to the east and was excavated to a depth of 260mm revealing a sharply rounded base. It was filled by bark brown compact silty-sand.

In trench 3 two roughly square post-holes were located further north. The former measured c. 500mm x 520mm x 100mm deep with vertical sides and undulating base. This was filled by a mid grey-brown compact siltysand with occasional shingle and two small sherds of medieval pottery. Post-hole 37 was only partially exposed, but had a width of 280mm and measured 180mm and was again vertical sided with an undulating base. The fill was of a similar nature to that within Post-hole 35 and contained a small amount of bone and a fragment of brick. A small pit or post-hole partially exposed against the western edge of the trench measuring c. 500mm across and 350mm deep. This was filled by a dark grey friable fine sandy-silt that contained occasional shingle and clay inclusions in addition to a small assemblage of medieval pottery and shell.

In trench 4 was a pit or possible backfilled well which was filled by a mid grey-brown slightly clayey silty-sand containing common CBM, medieval and 19th century pottery, mortar fragments an iron..(1) (information summarised from source)

<1> Archaeology South-East, 2005, An Archaeological Evaluation of Land north of Sainsbury's and Fronting Fairfield Road, New Romney, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE12631.