The north-western end of a post-set or plank set building, containing a probable hearth, was found during excavation work in 1999. It measured 6.2m wide internally and, although the length was not ascertained, probably 12.5m long if it conformed to the double square plan used in many buildings of this period. It is believed to date to the 8th or 9th centuries, although this style of building continued into at least the 10th century. That it is believed to be earlier in date comes from circumstantial evidence. A ditch containing eighth century finds in its lower fills, found in a19** by the Sheppey Archaeological Society, continued in the 1999 excavation area up to the wall of the timber building evidently respecting it. A band of stone found running parallel to the side of the timber building was interpreted as the stone footings for a timber-framed building. No certain stratigraphic relationship could be made between the timber buildings and the stone footings, although it is probable that the earlier building was replaced at some time by another building. Such stone-footed buildings have been found on a number of monastic sites and is likely to have been associated with the Abbey at Minster.(1)

<1> Gardiner, Mark, 2000, Excavations at Minster in Sheppey, Kent 1999 by Queen's University Belfast (Unpublished document). SKE12484.