Medieval features including pits, linear features, a wall, a possible quarry, and ovens/hearths were excavated at Canterbury Christ Church University in 2016.
The two pits were 1.5m in diameter and 0.60m wide respectively. The linear features were 0.75m wide and aligned E-W, and 0.75m wide and aligned WNW-ESE.
The abbey boundary wall survived to a height of 1.65m and was located 0.40m below the ground level. The boundary wall was located in three of the trenches and follows the course of other known sections of the wall. Pottery was recovered from the backfill of the construction trench which produced a 14th-15th century date, confirming the previous hypothesis that this is the boundary wall which was constructed in 1320 AD.
The possible abbey boundary ditch was aligned N-S and measured 3.4m in width by 0.65m in depth; it was situated at a height of 1.05m below current ground level.
The possible quarry was undated but was overlain by layers which were thought potentially to date from the medieval period, suggesting it may also date from this period. The feature was 2.2m in depth.
Undated small ovens/hearths were also excavated from this area; they are thought to potentially represent features associated with the abbey, with other industrial features having been excavated from the abbey during previous excavations (including a lime kiln). However, they may also represent post-Dissolution features.
Layers on the west of the abbey wall were largely difficult to interpret, with a possible quarry infill and sucessive soil layers, one of which contained a fragment of 13th century pottery. The difference between the layers on either side of the wall is thought to represent different forms of activity and land use on either side of the area.
Finds from the features include, pottery dating between the 11th-15th century, 13th century tile, tile dating from the medieval/post-medieval period, slate, animal bone, and slag.
Earlier Roman activity at the site is represented by finds of tile and pottery (TR 15 NE 1970), and possible Anglo-Saxon activity was also identified at the site (TR 15 NE 1971). (1)

To the east of the site, three pits, a possible linear feature, soil overlain by flint metalling, and a N-S aligned hollow way were identified dating to the medieval period. During the later medieval period, a N-S aligned abbey wall construction trench (thought to be the boundary wall recorded by Abbot Ralph Bourne in 1320 AD) was constructed.
To the west of the site, earlier features were infilled by flint metallings and deposits of soil which may have formed a trackway or hollow way. Later pits and linear features cut into the metallings, and contained pottery of medieval date within their fills.
Further pits and post-holes were identified to the west of the possible hollow way, which were also overlain by layers of metalling and soil containing animal remains, iron slag, medieval pottery, and burnt daub.
During the later medieval period, another construction trench and buttress for the abbey wall was located to the eastern side of the N-S aligned trackway. The buttress was thought to be contemporary with the abbey wall as they appeared to be formed from the same materials – chalk blocks and faced with chalk core and flint – however, its upper extent may have been repaired during the medieval period.
The wall was associated with a large pit containing fragments of 14th century glazed jug. Furthermore, metallings and wheel ruts were identified to the west of the buttress, within the hollow way, suggesting that the trackway remains in use into the later medieval period. The metallings were cut at a later stage by a ditch measuring 1-1.5m in width and 1-1.30m in depth, running parallel to the wall.

Other finds from the excavation include spindle whorls, quern stone fragments, nails, and pins, it is unclear which period these finds originate from. (2)

<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust Ltd, 2016, Canterbury Christ Church University, North Holmes Road, Canterbury Proposed Arts Building Archaeological evaluation report (Unpublished document). SKE52679.

<2> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2017, Canterbury Christ Church University, North Holmes Road, Canterbury Proposed Arts Building Interim report on Phase 2 archaeological evaluation works in Zone 2 (Unpublished document). SKE57663.