A trial trenching evaluation in 2007 discovered 7 gullies and a large pit on land north of existing buildings at Rochester Prison. The 27 trenches were excavated in 3 areas - areas 'A', 'B' and 'C'. The only features were found in area 'C'.

The gullies probably represent different phases of an enclosed field system. One or two medieval pottery sherds suggest a date as although more prehistoric finds were recovered these were believed to be residual. The excavators did conclude, however, that the prehistoric finds suggested some activity between the Neolithic and Iron Age in the area.(1)

A watching brief in 2007 and 2008 found the field boundary gullies continued across the area. From the report: "the gullies appear to have delimited an enclosed field system, probably of at least two phases, although the dating evidence remains inconclusive" (2). They are likely to have been of medieval date. A large pit, in addition to a similar pit encountered during the evaluation, is likely to have been a chalk extraction pit, but is undated. The flintwork is mostly dated to the Late Bronze Age. The flint-tempered pottery broadly dates to the Iron Age but may date to the Late Bronze Age at the earliest. (2)

<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2007, Report on evaluation trenching at Rochester Prison, Borstal, March 2007 (Unpublished document). SKE12965.

<2> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2008, Report on a Watching-brief at H.M. Young Offenders Institution, Rochester Prison, Borstal, October 2007 to March 2008 (Unpublished document). SKE15866.