In 2005 the route of the Leybourne-West Malling Bypass was examined by trial trenching. In area 'E' possible late iron age, Saxon and medieval activity was seen. The medieval activity was located close to London Road and consisted of two ditches and a pit containing bone, iron and 13th century pottery. Iron Age activity was located closer to Ashton Way. Two ditches and a pit contained animal bone, shell, worked flint and fired clay together with numerous sherds of late iron age pottery. A Saxon sunken-featured building was also found in trench 252 accompanied by 6th/7th century pottery, burnt clay and bone.(2)

Excavations carried out in advance of the Leybourne Bypass in 2005 (area E1) found two medieval ditches, a number of post holes and a possibly late medieval pit.The first ditch (28m long, 1.1m wide and 0.26 m deep) was aligned north-west to south-east and contained 13th century pottery. Immediately to the south was a line of square fence postholes that also contained medieval pottery. The other ditch (35m x 1.4-1.6m x 0.3-0.4m deep) ran north-east to south-west and also contained 13th century pottery. A large pit was also discovered (2.6m x 2.2m x 0.21m deep) that contained an iron nail, tile fragments and a single sherd of 13th century pottery. A number of other 13th century sherds were also found from the excavation.(1,3)

<1> Wessex Archaeology, 2005, A228 West Malling and Leybourne Bypass, West Malling Kent: Archaeological Excavation and Watching Brief Works (Unpublished document). SKE13007.

<2> Archaeology South-East, 2005, An archaeological evaluation along A228 Leybourne to West Malling Bypass, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE15652.

<3> Wessex Archaeology, 2006, A228 West Malling & Leybourne Bypass, West Malling, Kent, archaeological evaluation, excavation and watching brief works, post-excavation assessment report and proposals for analysis and final publication (Unpublished document). SKE15655.