The enclosures were labelled Enclosure 1, 2 and 3 during the investigations. Enclosure 1 was located towards the west of excavation area 5. It survived only as a L shaped arrangement of ditches, extending for a distance of 38m east to west and c.18m north to south. The ditches were 1.2m -1.5m wide but very shallow, cutting to a depth of only 0.2-0.24m. their profiles were generally U shaped, and appear to have been open for some time. A lack of primary silting suggests that they were regularly cleaned out. The fills of the ditches contained a high quantity of iron slag and furnace lining and occasional fragments of second century pottery. no features were identified within the area of the enclosure, though the majority of this was situated outside the area of excavation.

Enclosure 2 was located towards the eastern side of area 5 and was demarcated by the remains of three ditch lines. The enclosure was rectangular in plan extending for an area of 41.5m east to west and 20.9m north to south, though cropmarks indicate that it continues further to the north. The ditches had a V shaped profile and were between 0.7 and 1.8m wide and 0.83-1.13m deep. An entranceway was located to the south east, formed by a 2.88m wide opening and was flanked internally by posts, perhaps supporting a timber gateway. This was enlarged to a width of 5.93m in a later phase. Four post holes were located just inside the entrance, they may have formed a simple four post structure associated with access to the enclosure. Cutting obliquely for a distance of 31m across the internal area of enclosure 2 was a length of ditch aligned north west to south east. This likely demarked areas in the enclosure, possibly for different uses. The fills of the enclosure and dividing ditches produced sherds of early second century pottery.

Enclosure 3 was located towards the centre of excavation area 4, along the norther fringe. It was formed by an L shaped ditch running for a distance of at least c. 50.0 east to west and 8.5m north south, though cropmark evidence suggests it extends much further north. This was clearly late roman in date and cuts many features. The pottery associated with it dates to the late fourth and early fifth centuries.

In addition to the enclosures, numerous lengths of ditch were identified within the settlement area. the most substantial crossed the entirety of the excavation area (27.25m) and was 1.2-1.6m wide and 0.54m deep. This was probably a boundary ditch, perhaps indicating differing ownership or activity areas. The pottery from its fills indicates a late second to third century date. The remaining ditches were generally less substantial in nature, varying from 0.4-1.5m in width and 0.08 -0.6m in depth. They did not form any coherent pattern and some likely represented lines of fences or trees/hedges, forming wind breaks and screens to enclose particular areas of settlement activity, while others may have formed animal pens. (information summarised from source) (1-2)

<1> 1996, Arch Cant 116, 1996 (Article in serial). SKE54497.

<2> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 1996, Canterbury's Archaeology 1994 - 1995 (Serial). SKE11882.