Evidence of Saxon occupation found beneath the floor of the later medieval brewhouse of Christ Church (TR 15 NE 307). large number of stake holes were found which did not form any discernable structural pattern. Although they could be of Saxon date it is alson possible that they are scaffolding associated with the construction of the brewhouse. Also found were a sequence of intercutting pits and a patchy land surface. Nearly all of the pits produced large amounts of charcoal., daub, iron slag and animal bone. Additional finds included a copper alloy strap end, a lead coin of King Offa and a part of a late Saxon double sided antler comb. (1)

"Anglo - Saxon occupation in the area appears to have had its origins in the early seventh century, though it may predate the arrival of Augustine and his mission. Material dating to the seventh century has been produced, but it is not until the period A.D. 750 to 850 that substantial, and wide spread, occupation is revealed… The settlement appears similar to those at Barking (Webster and Bakehouse 1991:88-94), Brandon (Suffolk) (Carr et al. 1988), and Jarrow (Cramp 1969), where monastic involvement in production and trade has been identified. At St Augustine’s this involvement is reinforced by evidence from one of the early charters associated with the Abbey (Kelly 1995, no. 8)." (2)

"The evidence suggests that the settlement expanded throughout the eighth century to reach its zenith in ninth century. The college campus may lie on the perimeter of a large Anglo-Saxon settlement site called Nordholm, first referred to in 1283 and still represented by the modern North Holmes Road which forms the northern boundary to the college complex." (3)

<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 1993, Christ Church College 1993 Interim Report (Unpublished document). SKE8093.

<2> Hicks, Martin and Houliston, Mark, 1999, Archaeological Excavations at Canterbury Christ Church College. Assessment report on excavations conducted between 1983-1996 (Unpublished document). SKE31574.

<3> Hicks, Martin, 1996, Archaeological Excavations at Canterbury Christ Church College. Assessment Report on Excavations conducted between 1983-1995 (Unpublished document). SKE31570.