A programme of archaeological excavations and evaluations in the grounds of the former St. Stephen’s College in the North Foreland Area of Broadstairs between 1999 and 2003 revealed a group of Late Neolithic or early Bronze Age barrows. Ring ditch/Barrow 1 was located at the northern end of the site. The feature was bisected by a standing flint wall from the original College boundary, which is a listed structure and was left in place within the development. The feature was exposed on either side of the wall and is presumed to be continuous. The ring ditch had an approximate diameter of 21m although the shape in plan was irregular formed of fairly straight cuts of roughly 2.5m in length intersecting at acute angles. The regularity of the diameter across the feature suggests that a circle was marked out and the ditch was cut in straight sections with sharp deviations to bring them back into conformity with the circle. Three segments were excavated on each of the eastern and western elements of the ring ditch. The profile of the ditch was fairly consistent with a flat base and edges splayed at approximately 60°. In the northern end of the western element of the feature some later disturbance had occurred to the ring ditch destroying its original profile. The remaining depth of the feature was consistent over the excavated areas at 0.74m. Evidence from better preserved barrows elsewhere in Thanet would suggest that some truncation of the feature had occurred, presumably from agricultural activity in later years. In each segment multiple fills generally consisting of thin deposits tipping toward the centre of the cut were observed. There is no indication of any bias in the direction of filling or the material in the deposits to suggest the presence or composition of a central mound enclosed by the ditch.

Within the fill deposits, finds were sparse with no pottery in the primary deposits or dateable material that could be suggested was contemporary with the cutting or use of the feature. Pottery finds were limited to the uppermost fills and almost entirely consisted of ceramics dating from the Early Iron Age presumably incorporated when the ring ditch was almost entirely filled. It is likely the Iron Age material derived from waste deposits from the intensive settlement that was established a little to the south of the ring ditch which originated in the early 6th century BC.

No internal features were encountered within the ring ditch that could confirm its identification as a round barrow. The central part of the feature was obscured by the later wall and an unexcavated area either side of the structure which could hide a central grave. No secondary inhumations or off centre burial were observed in the excavated area. The most compelling evidence that the feature was a round barrow is its association with two other barrows in the same excavation. Both the smaller Barrow 3 and the original ring ditch cut, designated Barrow 4, had flat bases with steep sloping straight sides similar to that of Barrow 1. (1-2) (information summarised from source)

A ring ditch forming part of a round barrow of probable Bronze Age date was visible as a cropmark on land now occupied by 28 Foreland Heights in EARTH.GOOGLE.COM XX-XXX-1990 (ACCESSED 14-NOV-2023). This feature was mapped as part of the Historic England Isle of Thanet project in 2024. (3)

<1> Trust for Thanet Archaeology, 2006, Excavation at St Stephen's College, North Foreland, Broadstairs, Kent, Archaeological Excavation Report (Unpublished document). SKE53141.

<2> Trust for Thanet Archaeology, 2001, St. Stephen's College, North Foreland, Broadstairs: A Research Design (Unpublished document). SKE18223.

<3> Google.Com, 1960-2023, Earth.Google.Com orthophotography, EARTH.GOOGLE.COM XX-XXX-1990 (Archive). SKE57111.