Monument record TR 36 NE 433 - Evidence of medieval settlement activity on land adjacent to Nash Road and Salmestone Grange, Margate

An evaluation in 2000 recorded the foundations of two possible medieval buildings, sealed by demolition deposits (centred on 635414,169356). The foundations labelled 'Building 1' were sealed by post medieval demolition deposits, indicating that the building was demolished in the post medieval period. The report suggests that the ruin of the medieval building may have been re-used as cottages (marked on a 19th century map of Salmestone Grange) that were in turn demolished in the early 19th century.
Evidence from the deposits covering 'Building 2' suggest it may have been robbed out in the medieval period and the foundation trenches backfilled with building debris and domestic refuse, including the skull of a cow and a bronze cauldron.
Both buildings were built in a similar way using faced flint and chalk, bonded with a shelly, chalky mortar. Part of the foundation wall for 'Building 2' also incorporated ashlar blocks. The surviving construction evidence supports the theory that the walls are of probable medieval date, forming buildings possibly associated with the adjacent Salmestone Grange complex.
The larger ditches recorded during the evaluation were of a similar size and construction, indicative that they were part of the same phase of activity. A number of these were recorded in trenches on the eastern side of the site and the report suggests that they may have formed part of a continuous boundary ditch. Medieval pottery was recovered from this feature, along with a residual? sherd of late saxon pottery. A narrow ditch recorded in the northern half of the site also contained medieval pottery. It has been interpreted as a palisade trench due to its size and profile, a continuation of it may have been recorded in an adjacent trench. A number of other ditches were picked up during the evaluation trenching, some contained no finds, others did contain medieval pottery, the general consenus of the report being that all the ditches probably related to medieval activity (centred on 635450,169485). Many of the features may also relate to the cropmark layer found in KCC Heritage GIS projects [1- see also cropmark monuments TR 36 NE 74 and 100].

See also the early medieval cemetery? (TR 36 NE 434) and possible chalk quarry pits (TR 36 NE 435), recorded during the evaluation work.

Geophysical survey of the surrounding area. It did not pick the buildings up, although further linear features were identified (see TR 36 NE 436). [2].

Archaeological assessment report [3,4].

Second geophysical survey. Further areas of archaeological potential were identified [5].

The cropmark traces of rectilinear settlement enclosure complex and trackway associated with the medieval site at Salmestone Grange visible on a range of aerial photographs: CUCAP BTG84 26-JUN-1975, CUCAP BTG99 26-JUN-1975, HEA 35363_002 24-JUN-2024 and HEA 29747_042 29-JUN-2015. The site appears to be in two halves divided by the ditched trackway which extends NE-SW through the site. The western half appears as rectilinear ditched enclosures within an outer rectilinear double ditched enclosure, the southern and eastern sides of which are visible as cropmarks. The northern and western sides are lost beneath the adjacent school and Nash Road. The SE half is clearly truncated by Nash road which alters direction to the SSE, cutting through the site. This SE section of the site appears to be made up of less rectilinear enclosures. The trackway can be traced for over 275m from Nash Road to the boundary with the crematorium to the south-west. The trackway and part of the site have been recorded in TR 36 NE 2467 (6-9)

<1> Trust for Thanet Archaeology, 2000, An Archaeological Evaluation Carried Out On Land Adjacent Nash Road And Salmestone Grange, St. Johns Parish, Margate, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE12691.

<2> Stratascan, 2000, Geophysical survey carried out at Salmestone Grange, Nash Road, Margate, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE12704.

<3> John Samuels Archaeological Consultants, Thanet Local Plan. Archaeology Proof of Evidence, Nash Road, Margate (Unpublished document). SKE12714.

<4> John Samuels Archaeological Consultants, 2004, Thanet Local Plan, Nash Road, Margate, Appendices to Archaeology Proof of Evidence by Daniel Slatcher BA, MA, MIFA (Unpublished document). SKE12715.

<5> Stratascan, 2004, Salmestone Grange, Margate, Kent. Geophysical Survey Report, 2004. (Unpublished document). SKE12716.

<6> Historic England Archive, 1949-1976, Historic England Archive CUCAP oblique aerial photographs, CUCAP BTG84 26-JUN-1975 (Archive). SKE57107.

<7> Historic England Archive, 1949-1976, Historic England Archive CUCAP oblique aerial photographs, CUCAP BTG99 26-JUN-1975 (Archive). SKE57107.

<8> Historic England Archive, 1920-2024, Historic England Archive Specialist oblique aerial photographs, HEA 35363_002 24-JUN-2024 (Archive). SKE57106.

<9> Historic England Archive, 1920-2024, Historic England Archive Specialist oblique aerial photographs, HEA 29747_042 29-JUN-2015 (Archive). SKE57106.