An archaeological field evaluation was undertaken by the Canterbury Archaeological Trust (CAT), between the 18th and 25th of January 1998, of land to the east of Mersham, Kent. This formed part of a programme of archaeological investigations along the route of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, and was commissioned by Union Railways (South) Ltd (URS). The area under investigation was located to the north of the existing London to Folkeston railway. Immediately to the west was a field recently the subject of an archaeological excavation by CAT on behalf of URS (for this excavation, see ref 2).

A total of ten trenches were excavated, cut archaeological features being identified only in two of these trenches. These features were interpreted as a series of pits, and a large ditch. The ditch is believed to be the continuation of a ditch observed in an area previously excavated by CAT on behalf of URS, and is thought to represent the southern boundary to this site (a medieval metalworking site). Although no direct evidence for metalworking was evident the presence of the identified features suggests that the original limits of the medieval metalorking site continued to the east into the study area(1).

<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 1999, Archaeological evaluation report. East of Mersham (Unpublished document). SKE6917.

<2> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 1999, Mersham, Kent: Detailed Archaeological Works Interim Report (Unpublished document). SKE6920.