A number of Saxon features were identified during a watching brief on a pipeline project south of Hoo St. Werburgh. The watching brief had also identified prehistoric features (TQ 77 SE 163) and Romano-British features (TQ 77 SE 164) in two clusters. The Saxon features however, were only found in the eastern cluster, Area A (centred on TQ 7828 7170). They consisted of a posthole structure, which may have been contained within an enclosure represented by two very different groups of north-south running linear features, east and west of the structure.
The structure, which continued south under the easement, was c.10m wide and at least 7m long, defined by seven postholes (each approx 0.60m in diameter). No evidence for floor surfaces, occupation horizons or functional internal features had survived. Quantities of oyster shell, a small glass bead and an iron knife were recovered from one posthole.
The possible enclosure ditches consisted of three linears to the east of the structure, representing two phases of enclosure, one of which was a double ditch (with a possible central bank-although the later report refutes this), the other a single ditch.
To the west of the structure a further three linears were interpreted as a possible entrance to the enclosure. A deep north-south running linear terminated in the centre of the easement, recut by a shallower, wider terminus and subsequently recut and blocked off by a further north-south linear cut across the entrance.
An isolated pit was recorded west of these linears.
The features were dated on the basis of small assemblages of saxon pottery, which included a small number of continental imports (more commonly found on cemetery sites). The report concludes that the imported pottery may suggest a relatively early date for the settlement evidence, perhaps even consistent with that of the nearby Nunnery, which was founded by St Werburgh at Hoo in the later seventh century.
Of note were the significant quantities of smithing slag and fired clay fragments, hammerscale and predominantly oak charcoal (from the samples), which the report interprets as being indicative of iron working or smelting 'on site'. This evidence was concentrated in the western and to a lesser extent the eastern enclosure ditches, which were also used for more general rubbish.

Intrusive 13th-14th century medieval pottery was recovered from a number of saxon contexts, as well as unstratified post medieval pottery. Separate monument records have not been recorded for these residual finds.
Small amounts of residual Roman material were also recorded in some of the saxon features.
The perimeter of the observed remains is given in the grid refs of the main monument form [1 and 2].

<1> Wessex Archaeology, 2000, Hoo St. Werburgh WTW and Transfer Pipeline, Kent. Archaeological Watching Brief and Recording Action. Assessment Report. (Unpublished document). SWX7254.

<2> Wessex Archaeology, 2001, Late Bronze Age, Romano-British and Early/Middle Saxon Features at Hoo St. Werburgh, Kent. Draft Report. (Unpublished document). SKE12302.