A 13th century working floor and medieval/early post-medieval walls were excavated at 1-6 South Close, Canterbury, during an evaluation in 1999.

In one area of the site, a medieval wall footing associated with several clay floors was excavated. The wall footing was composed of "mortared flint and a scar upon it suggests that it may originally either have had a bench along its eastern side or have had a hearth back incorporated into it" (from the original report, 1). The wall fooring was around 1.30m in width, with its projected line coinciding with the wall of "14b The Precincts, the northern part of the eastern garden wall of 1-4 The Precincts, the eastern side of the Campanile Mound and the eastern wall of The Plumbery" (from the original report, 1). The wall is thought to have been a boundary wall associated with the boundary between land held by St Augustine's Priory and Christ Church Priory, and may have been associated with a possible chapel to the east, or a domestic building (its interpretation depending on whether the scar on the wall originated from a bench or a hearth). This feature was removed before the second clay floor was laid.
Across the site, evidence was recovered for the presence of medieval working surfaces comprised of crushed mortar and Caen stone. These may have originated from when the site was in use as a mason's yard.

Evidence for a medieval or early post-medieval wall formed of ragstone and Caen stone was also identified at the site. The wall ran N-S and measured around 0.20m in width. This is thought to have been associated with clay, mortar, and chalk floors. Some of these features may have been associated with the Sacrist's House which was demolished or heavily altered probably during 17th-18th century.

Another (still extant) medieval wall was investigated through this evaluation. This wall was associated with the revetment of the Campanile mound, and is thought to be Norman in date, although it exhibits some evidence for post-medieval alterations.

16th century pits were also excavated at the site, however, some may have been earlier in date.

Finds dating from the medieval period and associated with the site include pottery, daub, several spindlewhorls - one formed from a piece of pottery, worked stone (including pilasters, wall blocks, a window frame, frieze panels, and an architectural fragment), and 136 pieces of medieval roof tile. (1)

<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 1999, An Archaeological Evaluation at 1-6 South Close, The Precincts, Canterbury (Unpublished document). SKE30265.