Monument record TQ 54 NE 81 - Medieval and post-medieval occupation at Lyons, East Street, Tonbridge

An excavation at Lyons, East Street, Tonbirdge in 2001 and 2002 discovered a sequence of occupation dating from the 13th century onwards. The tail of the town rampart was discovered in the east of the site and a number of rubbish pits, building slots, field boundaries, postholes and gullies found across the site.

The excavators identified a number of phases:

Phase one: three mesolithic flints and five Roman sherds of pottery were found on the site.

Phase two: Two pits were found in the east trench and four pits were found in the north trench. All contained 13th century pottery.One of the northern pits may have been used as a cess-pit and there was also a beam slot from a structure. There may have been an area of refuse disposal in the area of the ramparts.

Phase 3: 14th century. An east-west ditch dating to the 14th century was found in the western trench.

Phase 4: 16th century. A ditch, three pits and five postholes were found on the site, spread across all three areas. Three of the postholes in the north trench may represent a structure.

Phase 5 & 6: 17th/18th century.A number of pits, postholes and gullies from this period were found across the site. These possibly relate to the construction of the building to the west of the site.

Phase 7 & 8: 19th century. Several pits possibly associated with the standing house and garden were discovered at the site.

Phase 9: 19th century. A number of landscaping features were found.

Phase 10: 20th century. (1)

<1> Pre-Construct Archaeology, 2002, Assessment of an archaeological excavation at Lyons, East Street, Tonbridge, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE13394.