Monument record TR 06 SE 1319 - Medieval quarry pits, track, ?post-holes, metalled surfaces, and ditch at Church Meadows, Seasalter

Summary

Medieval quarry pits, track, possible post-holes, metalled surfaces, and a ditch were excavated at Church Meadows, Seasalter during an evaluation in 2001.

Location

Grid reference Centred TR 0955 6465 (223m by 231m)
Map sheet TR06SE
Civil Parish WHITSTABLE, CANTERBURY, KENT
County KENT
District CANTERBURY, KENT

Map

Type and Period (7)

Full Description

Medieval quarry pits, track, possible post-holes, metalled surfaces, and ditches were excavated at Church Meadows, Seasalter during an evaluation in 2001.

A large number of shallow pits and depressions at the site have been interpreted as potential evidence for clay quarrying. These features measured between 1.2-5m in diameter, and 0.17-1.4m in depth. Several possible shallow post-holes were also identified at the site alongside five section of ditch containing 13th-14th century pottery, and a series of drains. Substantial quantities of crushed marine shell and chalk alongside medieval pottery were also recovered from the upper fills of features across the site dating to the later medieval period. Animal remains and brick/tile fragments were also associated with deposits at the site.

Two or three tracks or hollow ways, some of which had metalled surfaces, were also identified at the site. These hollow ways measured around 6.5-8.12m in width and over 1m in depth. One or more of these features may date from the Anglo-Saxon period. One of the trackways may have connected "the salt-workings along the coast with the Blean or the documented Anglo-Saxon port of Harwich" (from the original report, 1). The discovery of Anglo-Saxon pottery at the site is suggested to indicate the presence of a nearby Anglo-Saxon settlement, possibly near to St Alpheges Church. The earliest Anglo-Saxon pottery excavated at the site dated from 450-750 AD, and comprised a fine sandy ware and an organic tempered ware. Later pottery types included Ipswich ware and Late Saxon Canterbury sandy ware, alongside a single sherd of Late Saxon shelly ware thought to have been an import from France or Flanders.

Residual prehistoric and Roman pottery was excavated from the fills of some of the features at the site. (1)


<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2001, Archaeological Evaluation of land known as Church Meadows, Church Lane, Seasalter, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE56241.

Sources/Archives (1)

  • <1> Unpublished document: Canterbury Archaeological Trust. 2001. Archaeological Evaluation of land known as Church Meadows, Church Lane, Seasalter, Kent.

Finds (6)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (1)

  • Intrusive Event: Archaeological evaluation of land known as Church Meadows, Seasalter, Kent, 2001 (Ref: Site code: CLS 2A 01) (EKE23280)

Record last edited

Jan 29 2025 11:50AM