An Iron Age pot, Roman ditch, Saxon and medieval floors, and remains of the Almonry chapel were discovered during excavations in the Mint Yard area (TR 15095811 (5)) undertaken in advance of the construction of a new 'dog boys' house for the King's School and were finished early in 1980. The earliest deposits consisted of layers of peat and river silt, containing late Iron Age and Roman pottery. A number of 'U' shaped ditches and timber 'piles' cut these waterlogged levels, suggesting that from at least early Roman times attempts were made to drain the marsh. Gravel shingle and loam were dumped as part of a scheme to drive a road across the marsh. This road, metalled at leasteight times was established in the last quarter of the 1st century. In the seventh or eighth century a series of three successive courtyard metallings and post holes perhaps indicate a Saxon boundary.A quantity of grass-tempered sherds and a Saxon bead necklace were found. These levels were sealed by a thick layer of black soil containing Saxo-Norman material. Medieval layers were encountered and levels relating to flimsy timber-framed, clay-floored tenement properties. Sealing this evidence were the remains of the Almonry chapel built by Prior Henry of Eastry between 1324 and 1328. (1-5)

<1> Arch Cant 96 1980 398-99 (P Bennett) (OS Card Reference). SKE36265.

<2> Cant Arch Trust Ann Rep 4 1979-80 14-15 fig (P Bennett) (OS Card Reference). SKE38503.

<3> Arch Cant 95 1979 273-5 plan (P Bennett) (OS Card Reference). SKE36215.

<4> CBA Arch in Brit 1978 67 (OS Card Reference). SKE38750.

<5> Arch Cant 100 1984 plan facing p178 (T Tatton-Brown) (OS Card Reference). SKE34549.