A watching brief carried out in 2004 found two medieval pits and four undated features together with 13th/14th century medieval pottery and three prehistoric struck flints.

Two pits (3 and 6) were certainly archaeological. Pit 6 contained a sherd of 13/14th century pottery in the fill together with iron slag. Pit 3 contained 24 sherds of medieval pottery, all from the same vessel. It also contained three residual struck flints.

The remaining pits were not conclusively archaeological and may represent tree-holes.

Within the area of the sunken garden a single ditch crossed the site from NW - SE. The ditch was investigated but no dating evidence was found.(1)

<1> Thames Valley Archaeological Services, 2004, The new rectory, Penshurst, Kent: an archaeological watching brief (Unpublished document). SKE13452.