Documentary evidence indicates that Small Hythe had been an important site for shipbuilding during the early 15th to mid-16th century. Two famous ships are associated with the shipyard; the Jesus and the Henry Grace à Dieu. The Jesus was built in 1416 by William Godley for Henry V who visited the yard during its construction and was, at 1000 tons, the largest ship in the yard. The Henry Grace à Dieu, although not built in Small Hythe, had timbers prepared here for its construction in Woolwich in 1412.

During the 1998 three day Time Team excavation a series of linear depressions, identified from aerial photographs as possible slipways, were surveyed running along the probable medieval shoreline along with two areas believed to be medieval docks to the west and east. One of the linear depressions was excavated and a linear hollow was found 25 m long and 12 m wide containing in its fill a large number of iron nails and roves, along with brick fragments and rounded flint peddles. The location of this feature, just above the level of the former shoreline, suggests that it was indeed a slipway for the construction and repair of ships, which had later silted up. In the same excavation trench the remains of a rectangular feature, 3.25m by 2.7m, was found cut into the natural clay with a central pedestal of clay. Due to the destruction of the eastern end of the feature and lack of excavation of its interior, its function is not precisely understood, but it is thought to date to the late medieval period and is earlier in date than the slipway. It is believed to be either a brick clamp, although it does not seem to conform to the normal shape, or a limekiln, possibly for the repair or construction of ships ovens or kitchen hearths.

The overall size of the shipyard remains unclear. It is clear that the area to the west, Delf Marsh, thought originally to have been a dock, is no such thing. Also the pond in the grounds of Small Hythe Place thought possibly to be another dock, whilst producing a large quantity of iron ships fittings, evidence of iron smithing and fragments of two ships timbers, also included post-medieval artefacts and no evidence of a dock in the limited excavation trench. It seems to have been an area associated with the shipyard, but what its function was is not yet known. One of the ships timbers, made of oak, has been identified as coming from a small clinker built late medieval ship(1).

Additional bibliography. (2)

Watching brief undertaken by Archaeology South-East in 2005 during installation of new services found areas of metalworking activity, and a sequence of N-S orientated channels which were interpreted as slipways. A wharf was identified in the SW corner of the area investigated, and a substantial channel was recorded on its western edge, running south towards the former foreshore. A small number of Roman artefacts were also found. (3)

<1> Terrain Archaeology, 2002, Smallhythe, Tenterden, Kent Archaeological Investigations by Time Team June 1998 (Unpublished document). SKE12205.

<2> Archaeology South-East, 2005, Archaeological and Historic Landscape Survey, Smallhythe Place Kent (Unpublished document). SKE16623.

<3> Archaeology South-East, 2006, An Archaeological Watching Brief at Smallhythe Place, Smallhythe Road, Tenterden, Kent: A Post-Excavation Assessment And Project Design For Publication (Unpublished document). SKE16624.