Monument record TR 15 NE 2057 - Anglo-Saxon features including pits, a well, and a furnace at The Chantry Club, Canterbury

Anglo-Saxon features including pits, a well, and a furnace were excavated at The Chantry Club, Canterbury during an evaluation in 2015 and a strip, map, and sample excavation in 2016.

Anglo-Saxon features at the site dated between 730-900 AD. A number of pits and undefined features were visible at the site, alongside a well. The pits ranged in form from circular to square-shaped, and measured around 1.40x0.50-0.90x0.50m, with some variation in size and form. Finds from the features included 2 knives (one of which was an angle-backed knife), two unidentified metal objects (one iron, one copper), iron slag, ash, charcoal, animal remains, a copper alloy polyhedral headed pin, a doughnut shaped clay loom weight, and daub. The iron slag associated with these features has been interpreted as evidence for an iron production industry at the site.

Two other pits have been interpreted as originating from a later period at the site, as these lacked evidence for industrial activity. One of these features contained a late 9th century silver penny (Alfred the Great), thought possibly to be uncirculated, in its fill.

The well was circular, with a diameter of 2.5m and an initial depth of 2.10m up to the well-shaft which was square-shaped and measured around 1.20x0.80m with an overall depth of 15-16m. The well produced finds of a complete 'angle-back' knife, three unidentified metal objects, quernstone fragments, a domed-shaped spindle whorl, burnt fragments of wattle and daub, charcoal flecks, iron slag, Anglo-Saxon pottery, oyster shell, and bone.

The furnace feature measured 1.20x0.90x0.30m and was aligned NW-SE. The feature comprised a single chambered twin flued furnace. "The structure had an irregular linear layout with a central, vertical ‘instep’ forming a channel where the heat source was located (represented by a solid burnt base). At either end of the central channel was a flue. The NW flue was square-shaped with vertical sides and a sloped NW step. The SE flue was curvilinear and also had vertical sides" (from the original report, 1). The furnace contained small pieces of daub and iron slag within its fill, which may relate to the iron slag found within other Anglo-Saxon features at the site.
The presence of daub at the site may indicate the presence of a building in the vicinity of the features.

The alignment and grounping of features at the site appears to indicate that the land was divided into individual plots. Later features at the site include medieval pits, wells, and post-holes (TR 15 NE 2557). (1)

<1> Swale & Thames Archaeological Survey Company, 2016, Post-Excavation Assessment Report on the Archaeological Excavation of Land at The Chantry Club, Lower Chantry Lane, Canterbury, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE55782.