(1):

The site of the workhouse was divived into several phases:
Phase 3: 1836-1870
Phase 4: 1870-1885
Phase 5: 1885-1897
Phase 6: 1897-1908
Phase 7: 1908-1938
Phase 8: 1938-1945
Phase 9: 1945 to present

Phase 3 represents the original phase of the workhouse. The northern end of which was identified during the excavations. The North-Eastern end of the workhouse related to the entrance range which measured an area approximately 8m by 7.5m. Excavations revealed poured limecrete foundations for this part of the structure. Surviving external walls measured 0.4m thick, with a pattern of narrower walls recorded to the east. There was a NW-SE internal wall constructed using a header pattern, the walls were built of brick and bonded with a grey-white mortar.

A second building was identified, to the south east - which seemed to also date to phase 3. This building contained a vaulted water tank, with water drawn from pipe and entering it from the west. Exacavations also revealed a number of drains around this structure, one possible use for this south-eastern structure was as a soak-away. Excavations picked up the NW corner of this structure, which extended south of the LOE. The building measured 4.74m wide (NW-SE) and 3.01m long (NE-SW). The north wall measured 0.49m wide with the western extension measuring 0.4m wide. Both walls were bonded with yellow sandy mortar and sat above a limecrete foundations.

Phase 4 represents the workhouse between 1870-1885. Much of phase 4 formed an extension to the original 1836 complex, which was situated immediately to the north of the 1836 complex. This new structure was orientated N-S and almost completely in the entire excavation area with a small second building built to the SW end shortly after.

The rectangular structure measured around 36m in length by 5.5m in width. The majority of the range was constructed on stone foundations, built of hard grey limestone (measuring up to 0.39m x 0.19m x 0.19m), bonded with off-white friable lime mortar with small flint grit inclusions. Exposed to a depth of 0.85m at the NE where they formed part of a cellared area and 0.58m to SW. Size of stone was slightly smaller than main external walls (0.29m x 0.21m x 0.17m).
The cellared area consisted of at least 2 rooms, excavation was limited due to asbestos within the rubble. The walls were built using frogged red bricks bonded with the same mortar as the foundations. The bricks used were a mix, including bricks embossed with 'G. Hodges Malling' and other wider bricks without marks. Two doorways were recorded at front of the building, including stone steps still in situ.

The small second building located to the SW of the NS complex, gave the complex an L shape. This part of the building was built using wider frogged red brick and yellow mortar. This structure measured 5.3m in length (NE-SW) and 2m wide and excavations identified surviving surfaces, made of hard off-white mortar or cement skim with grit inclusions above a bedding layer of mortared red and yellow brick rubble. There were also three drains associated with this structure; including a ceramic pipe on the SW wall, vertical metal pipe to the SE corner and , brown glazed ceramic drain with words 'Ducketts patent ceramic drain' at the NE corner.

A third building identified as part of phase 4, which was contructed to the south and associated with a curving boundary wall, situated on an idnetical NNE-SSW axis to the entrance range to the original workhouse complex. This wall was concave in shape and measured around 10m long by 0.3m wide and was constructued using the same bricks as the rest of phase 4.

Phase 5 represents the workhouse between 1885-1897. Phase 5 of the workhouse, saw the development of the construction of the chapel which was located to the NW side of the site (40m west of the workhouse buildings).The chapel was constructed on a foundation of limecrete and stone foundations, measuring 22.8m long and 11m wide with three sided apsidal at the SE end. The foundations were truc=ncated at the NW end by a later cellar and at the SE by modern service line. The NW corners and side walls were buttressed every 3m, to support the weight of the roof. The walls of the chapel were built using roughly finished medium sandstone blocks. The walls were binded with a creamy yellow, hard, sandy mortar with grit inclusions. Excavations revealed two internal foundation walls about 2.6m apart. A NE-SW wall abutted the chapel to the NW, this wall was built of red unfrogged bricks of standard size (220mm x 110mm x 70mm) and flint nodules, bonding material consisted of a pale grey sandy mortar. Lack of material from the chapel suggests that the majority of furnishings were removed prior to demolition.

Phase 6 represents the workhouse between 1897-1908. This phase consisted mostly of small changes and adjustments to the exisiting structures, especially the NS structure belonging to phase 4. One of the main changes to occur was the demolition of a small phase 5 building, and the building of a much larger structure in its place. This structure is located to the east of the large N-S phase 4 structure. The structure has unknown use, but seemed to be centrally divided - with suggestions that this was to separate male and female areas. The building was sub-rectangular, slightly tapered or trapezoidal to the NW end where it joined the entrance range. The walls were built using pinkish-yellow bricks and bonded with pale-yellow mortar. The exposed measurements of the building were 14m long and the main outer walls measured 0.4m wide with 0.6m wide stepped offset (surviving to a height of 0.27m). This phase also consisted of many alterations to drainage for the site, including a new brick soak-away.

Phase 7 represents the workhouse between 1908-1938. Not many major changes seemed to have occurred during phase 7 other than alterations to the existing structures, including reconstruction of the entrance building. It has been suggested that this change may have been due to the takeover by KCC, although remains unproven.

Phase 8 represents the workhouse between 1938-1945. During this period, the buildings were owned by KCC and the site was used for miltary purposes throughout the second world war. The chapel was demolished during this period, it is thought to make way for the building on Nissen huts as well as subterranean buildings (possibly air-raid shelters). Demolition of the site began in the 1960s.

<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2023, Land south of nos 1 and 2 Orwell Spike, West Mallking, Kent, ME19 4PB: Archaeological report on the strip, map and sample excavation (Unpublished document). SKE56102.