Medieval/post-medieval features including bedding trenches/slots for timber base plates of a wooden structure, a possibly natural/engineered linear feature, an 18th century linear features related to drainage, and a post medieval soil horizon were excavated on land at the former Southern Water site, Canterbury. The features were identified during an evaluation in 2010.
Artefacts were recovered from the agricultural soil horizon including roofing tile dating to 1700-1900 AD, "single prehistoric struck flake, a sherd of pottery dated to 1775- 1900, and a small quantity of ceramic building material broadly dateable to 1200- 1800 and residual Roman ceramic building material" (from the original report, 1).
Of the medieval possible bedding trenches/slots for timber base plates, one was aligned NE-SW, measuring 0.35m in width and 0.1m in depth. 5 other linear slots or gullies emanated from the eastern end of the feature at right angles. The fill of the feature contained pottery dating to 1225-1375 AD and comprising locally made sandy wares (such as Tyler Hill Ware). Ceramic building material was also recovered from the fill of the feature; the roofing tile dated to 1200-1800 AD, and brick fragments dated to 1500-1800 AD.
One of the linear features formed a large ditch measuring 4.1m wide and aligned E-W; its fill contained occasional fragments of coal alongside a small quantity of 1200-1800 AD roofing tile and residual Roman roofing tile.
The 3 probable post-medieval drainage gullies measured 0.3-0.61m in width, 14m in length, and 0.06-0.16m in depth. One of the gullies was aligned NW-SE. These features contained within their fills pottery dating to the late 18th century, and ceramic building material dating to 1200-1800 AD.
Other features identified at the site included a post-medieval pit/post-hole, modern linear feature, pit, and a cess-pit like structure and a ceramic pipe (thought to relate to the construction of a 20th century sewerage works in the vicinity of the site). A late Neolithic/early Bronze Age end/side scraper was also found at the site. (1)