Evidence for post-medieval quarrying at HM Prison, Longport, Canterbury (excavated in 2016). These features include a pit and linear trenches for clay extraction. The archaeological evaluation at HM Prison, Longport comprised the excavation of 6 evaluation trenches (3-8) within and around the extant prison wall. The evaluation was undertaken by Canterbury Archaeological Trust as a result of proposals for development at the site. Other finds and features include Iron Age pottery, Roman features (TR 15 NE 1946), medieval features (TR 15 NE 1947) and evidence for features associated with earlier HM prison buildings (TR 15 NE 1949).

The linear features associated with quarrying were thought to date to the late 18th century due to the presence of pottery in their fills dating to this period. The separate quarry pit is dated more broadly to the post-medieval period due to the lack of associated dateable material.

The large quarry pit measured over 3.45m in width and 1.2m in depth. The linear trenches ranged in width between 0.18-0.85m, and in depth between 0.07-0.90m. They contained artefacts including tobacco pipe fragments and post-medieval pottery. Some residual artefacts (largely pottery) were alsao retrieved from the fill of the features, dating to medieval/pre-medieval periods.

Other post-medieval features at the site comprised sections of wall dating to the early modern/modern period which were associated with the HM Prison at Longport.
(1)

<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust Ltd, 2016, Former HM Prison, Longport, Canterbury Kent Archaeological evaluation report (Unpublished document). SKE52668.