Medieval and post-medieval buildings were excavated during an evaluation and strip, map, and sample excavation at Havelock Street and Old Ruttington Lane, Canterbury between 2017-2019.

The earliest phase of activity at the site was represented by medieval features including part of a building - a wall and associated clay floor - and two pits which contained medieval pottery. The wall was comprised of chalk blocks, and was severely truncated, measuring 1.50x0.25x0.15m. Other probable medieval features uncovered during the evaluation include a probable occupation layer, a demolition layer or wall foundation, a compacted courtyard surface formed of tile, chalk, animal bone fragments, and potsherds, alongside a kiln/oven/hearth dating to 1275-1350 associated with scorched tiles and clay.
Later excavation at the site also found evidence for medieval hearths including one dating to 1350-1400 AD which was later replaced by a hearth dating to around 1475-1550 AD. The later hearth was constructed of "tile, brick, a stone slab and thin cylindrical fragments of columns of Bethesden marble" (from the original report, 4). Clay and chalk floors alongside mortar wall/wall foundations associated with medieval buildings, and rubbish pits were also uncovered.

One of the medieval pits excavated at the site was truncated, therefore its dimensions were not recorded. The other pit was roughly circular and measured 1.75m in diameter, and 1.08m in depth. The pits contained charcoal, CBM, animal bone, and medieval pottery (dating from 1125-1175 AD and 1400-1450 AD).
One of the pits contained 55 sherds weighing 2.886kg in its lower fill and another pottery assemblage in its upper fill. The sherds in the lower fill were comprised of two main fabrics - Canterbury sandy ware and northeast Kentish shell-tempered ware. 19 sherds of the Canterbury ware pottery appeared to have originated from the same vessel. One of the vessels represented appears to have been a large storage jar with a thin walls, a heavy everted and rolled rim. Other vessels represented by the sherds appears to ba another storage jar and cooking pots. The upper fill produced evidence for sherds relating to cooking and storage vessels, including three pitchers, and jugs.

Other undated features include a group of pits and post-holes, which may also date from the medieval period.

The remains of three buildings were also excavated which were attributed to the post-medieval period; however, one or more of the buildings may have originated during the medieval period. Features associated with these buildings included clay floors, walls, and hearths. Another feature thought to date from the post-medieval period was a brick built oval cheese pit (thought to date between 1625-1675 AD and measuring 1.23x1.65x0.52m).
One of the buildings had a peg-tile hearth. This type of hearth frequently dates from the 13th and 15th centuries, suggesting that this building may date from the later medieval period rather than the post-medieval period. A heavily corroded iron key was recovered from underneath the peg-tile hearth.

A number of residual medieval and post-medieval finds were recovered from a post-medieval subterranean feature at the site. These included a late medieval thimble, 8 post-medieval pins, and 2 buttons. Finds dating from the post-medieval period and associated with other features at the site include an incomplete bone comb, a cattle rib shoehorn, a ceramic wig curler, a clay pipe stem, a vellum glove, two copper alloy jetons, and 5 bone buttons. Finds which may date from the medieval or post-medieval periods include oyster shell, mortar, potsherds, and roof tile fragments.

Redevelopment occurred in the area during the 19th century, with the addition of terraced housing. The buildings at the site were partially destroyed by Second World War bombing at the site. The buildings were then demolished and cleared. (1-4)

<1> Swale and Thames Archaeological Survey Company, 2021, Archaeological Investigations at Havelock Street and Old Ruttington Lane, Canterbury, Kent: Post-Excavation Assessment (Unpublished document). SKE55803.

<2> 2017, An archaeological evaluation on the site of a proposed development between Havelock Street and Old Ruttington Road, Canterbury, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE55813.

<3> Swale & Thames Archaeological Survey Company, 2019, Excavation Report of the Ground Reduction to Formation of Rafts 1 -3 at Havelock St and Old Ruttington Ln, Canterbury Kent (Unpublished document). SKE55816.

<4> Swale & Thames Archaeological Survey Company, 2019, An archaeological assessment report following two phases of archaeological evaluation and two phases of excavation on the site of a proposed development between Havelock Street and Old Ruttington Lane, Canterbury, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE55817.