(TR 15075779 ) Roman stone built buildings (2) were revealed when excavation took place in three cellars on the south side of Burgate Street under the auspices of the Canterbury Excavation Committee in 1945. There was some evidence for pre-Roman occupation. There were traces of more than one timber structure of 1st century date. The first stone building was put up in the early-mid 2nd century, and was apparently fairly quickly demolished. The late 2nd century saw the erection of what may have been some kind of public building of which part only was excavated. Later levels had been destroyed by the cellar floors and so no estimate could be made of the length of the building's life. The area had been used sporadically as a rubbish dump in the 3rd-4th centuries. (1) Additional bibliography. (2)

A desk-based assessment for a nearby site describes the 2nd century building as having been constructed in mortared flint. The building has been interpreted as a possible temple or guildhall.
One of the excavated walls demonstrated evidence for clasped buttresses/pilaster bases, and measured around 1.5m in height above its foundations. Two rooms were identified, measuring around 8.6x13.3m in total. A probable mortar floor was also identified, alongside plaster on the face of the inner wall. "The south-western room was set back from the projected line of the street… by about 5m… but the exposure of a short length of contemporary footing outside of its south-western angle suggested that a flight of steps or, more probably, another room or colonnnade extended towards the road" (from the original report, 3).
A 'pit within a pit' was also identified at the site, its function is unclear, althought it may have represented a post-hole.
In another area of the site an occupation level dating to the mid-late 1st century was excavated. This was overlain by a clay floor/levelling deposit which was in turn overlain by a 2nd century gravel spread and possibly occupation deposit. These layers were sealed by a levelling deposit comprising demolition debris. (3)

<1> Arch Cant 60 1947 68-87 plan illusts photos (A Williams) (OS Card Reference). SKE35316.

<2> Arch of Canterbury 7 1983, 25, 109, plans (S Frere and Stow) (OS Card Reference). SKE36851.

<3> Swale & Thames Archaeological Survey Company, 2015, Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment in advance of the proposed development of Land to the rear of 37B Northgate, Canterbury, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE55988.