In 2005 Museum of London Archaeology Service carried out an evaluation of the north-east part of the cattle market site extending towards the High Street. No definite structures were found but numerous pits, postholes and stakeholes and ditches were discovered from across the site. The fills of the features included a mix of medieval (1050 onwards) and post medieval pottery found together with iron slag, glass, animal bone and clay pipe. One possible Roman sherd was also found.

From the archaeological report: "From the Norman period into the 13th century, it appears that the site (was) subject to domestic occupation, with numerous finds of domestic pottery, and light industry use, represented by significant quantities of iron slag. At some point after this time, it appears the site was cleared and that timbers were removed from the postholes.

During very late medieval to later post-medieval periods, pottery recovered from the site appears to reflect changes in the nature of occupation. In the 15th to 17th centuries pottery types were predominantly storage vessels; whilst domestic wares dominate the 17th to 18th centuries. The 18th and 19th centuries are represented largely by tableware. These tablewares may relate to The Bear and Ragged Staff Inn that was perhaps situated in this area." (1)

The site was subsequently excavated by Museum of London Archaeology Service in 2005. The earliest features found related to at least one timber-framed building on the medieval high street frontage: a series of beam slots and postholes were found on the eastern side of the site. The building was removed probably sometime before c.AD 1200. To the rear of the building(s) a shallow ditch dating to the first half of the 13th century was found. It contained animal bone, wood and charred grains, possibly forming part of an enclosure and perhaps relating to industrial use of the site. West of this ditch a large number of refuse pits had been dug, containing pottery of 12th and 13th century date and all of domestic character. Iron slag and materials relating to iron-working were, however, found in many of the medieval features. As such, it is likely that this industrial activity occurred on the site or nearby. Animal bone from these pits came from cattle, sheep/goat and pig with plant remains of cereals. Numerous stake and post holes in the area could relate to property boundaries of this period. One unusual find was a pig buried in a box, it may have been of 13th century date. Pits were also dug on the site of the building(s) and one contained a near complete 15th century lobed cup with a horse and rider figure mounted in the centre. There was apparently some 15th and 16th century activity on the site but no features were identified as belonging to this period.

Post medieval occupation of the site was of a domestic nature with mostly refuse pits and post holes being found. As in the medieval period the refuse pits were concentrated on the western part of the site, away from the High Street. A 17th century cobbled external yard surface sealed below a demolition spread with brick and tile of similar date from a building fronting the High Street. This building was demolished sometime in the middle of the 18th century. Foundations of an 18th century building and a stone wall with a brick-built hearth of 18th or 19th century date were found. Both appear to have been cleared prior to the construction of the Capital Cinema. Iron slag and materials relating to iron-working were found in many of the post medieval features. This was taken as evidence that the activity continued to be located on or near this site during this period. (2)

<1> Museum of London Archaeology Service, 2005, Tonbridge Stock and Cattle Market, Commercial Development, Tonbridge High Street, Tonbridge: An archaeological evaluation report (Phase 2 evaluation) (Unpublished document). SKE13403.

<2> Museum of London Archaeology Service, 2006, Tonbridge Stock and Cattle Market, Commercial Development, Tonbridge High Street, Tonbridge: An archaeological post-excavation assessment and updated project design (Unpublished document). SKE24339.