During investigations associated with the construction of the Ramsgate Harbour Approach, road in 1997/1998, evidence for medieval activity was uncovered. A network of numerous small linear gullies was spread over a large area of the site, approximately 230m in extent (north – south), forming the rectilinear pattern of a co-axial field system. The gullies, undoubtedly truncated by later ploughing, tended to be less than 0.5m wide (but could be up to 1.3m wide in places) with generally shallow profiles up to 0.3m deep. Homogeneous brown silts filled all and finds were scarce. The latter mostly comprised abraded residual or intrusive pottery. It seems most likely that this field system is medieval in date, possibly with its origins in the Anglo-Saxon period. Early-middle Anglo-Saxon potsherds were recovered from two gullies. Later medieval pottery was variously found in field system gullies F1006 (three sherds: two c AD 1075-1200 and one c AD 1250-1325), F1025 (nine sherds: c AD 1150-1350), F1022; (one sherd: c AD 1275-1325) and F586 (one sherd: c AD 1475-1525). The features also produced a number of iron objects of indeterminate date. The southern end of the system as revealed within the area of excavation appeared to be roughly aligned axially with the Anglo-Saxon building, and the gullies in the vicinity of that structure (and on a slightly different alignment to the rest of the system could be earlier (ie Anglo-Saxon in date) and have originated as an enclosure associated with the structure.

A hollow trackway, aligned roughly south-east to north-west, ran across the site and was clearly axially aligned with both the field system described above as well as the line of Chalk Hill road, almost immediately to the north. It seems likely that this hollow way, varying between 3.8m and over 6m wide, was the forerunner of the modern road. A linear drainage gully about 0.18m deep ran along the southern side of the hollow for at least 30m.

Lying partially within the site, immediately to the southeast of the hollow way was a large quarry pit at least 14m wide and over 1.5m in depth (it could not be fully excavated). Its upper fill, flecked with oyster shell, bone fragments, heat-affected clay and chalk, contained a small assemblage of worked flint, at least two late Bronze Age plain ware sherds and three medieval Tyler Hill sandy ware sherds (c AD 1200-1250). Whilst it seems likely that this feature probably resulted from medieval activity associated with the hollow way, it is also possible that the medieval sherds are intrusive and that the pit was much earlier. (information summarised from source) (1-2)

<1> 2019, Chalk Hill - Neolithic and Bronze Age Discoveries at Ramsgate, Kent (Monograph). SKE56208.

<2> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 1997, Excavations at Chalk Hill, near Ramsgate, Kent 1997-98: Integrated assessment & updated research design (Unpublished document). SKE29640.