Meadow Cottage was a small thatched house built, according to a date stone in the front wall, in 1714. It was destroyed by fire in the late 1920s (c.1929) and demolished.

A watching brief following the demolition of the 20th century bungalow, Orchard Lea, built on the site following the demolition of the remains of Meadow Cottage, recorded traces of both buildings. Domestic refuse dating from c.1675-1750 fits with the date stone originally displayed on the cottage of 1714. A chalk lined well, perhaps 50m and up to 100m deep, was also found and is thought to date to the same period (1).

<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2009, Archaeological watching brief at Orchard Lea, The Street, Staple, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE15973.