Aerial photograph [1].

Following on from the evaluation work in the spring of 1997, at the site of the former Holy Trinity School, it was decided to fully excavate a large area in the most archaeologically sensitive part of the site. This work in the north western corner of the site revealed a number of features:

Two parallel east-west running linears (with vertical sides and flat bases) have been interpreted as beam slots for a small rectangular building, dated to the 11th to early 12th centuries. The southern beamslot was picked up in the earlier evaluation work, although it was undated in the initial report, the main excavation report states it was dated to the 11th to early 12th centuries! No corresponding beamslots were found at the western and eastern ends of the structure, either because the building was open ended or because the north and south walls were the load bearing walls and the east and west walls were laid directly onto the chalk. Several postholes were found in proximity to this structure and have been associated with it, either interpreted as supporting the structure or forming internal divisions. Three of the postholes were dated to the 11-12th centuries. One posthole was cut through the northern beamslot and interpreted as providing additional support for the building.

A large feature to the north east was associated with the building, as it contained 11th century pottery. In addition to the pottery, animal bone and shell were also recovered and the feature was interpreted as a rubbish pit. The report suggests that the building may therefore have had a domestic use. The pit also contained residual roman tile.

Other features identified during the archaeological works included a Late Bronze Age/Iron Age pit (TQ 57 SW 250), an Early Medieval cemetery (TQ 57 SW 207) and a Medieval Boundary Ditch (TQ 57 SW 252).
The report suggests that the building may be respecting the burials, and that they were visible or at least known about several centuries after the cemetery had gone out of use.
A number of other medieval pits were recorded by the Dartford District Archaeological Group. They were all quite small features and only their sketched positions were recorded by the Dartford Group (see the main ASE excavation report for more detail) [2].

<1> 1993, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10721.

<2> Archaeology South-East, 1998, An Archaeological Excavation at Holy Trinity School, West Hill, Dartford, Kent (Draft) (Unpublished document). SKE12280.