Large mound on N side of Longport, within St Augustine's Abbey precinct, examined. Foundations more than 20ft long N-S and c16ft wide E-W exposed. Two periods of construction: the earlier of late C13 - C14 date had been demolished down to ground level. A building was erected on the site. A post-Reformation date for this building is indicated. The mound itself has not been excavated but it is probably artificial. Recently a human skeleton was discovered under the pavement on the S side. Part of a human skull was also found nearby. (1)

(TR 15565769) Mound surveyed (see illustration card for plan). Foundations of a medieval or post-Dissolution building excavated by Frank Jenkins, 1964. He does not consider them to be part of the bell tower which once stood here. (2)

A bell tower, already in existence in the late C13, stood at one end of the Bordiche between the abbey precinct and the barton. This bell tower must have been a detached structure towards the SE corner of the precinct along Longport and may have stood on the site of the mound. (3)

Campanite mound and excavated building shown on plan. (4)

Additional reference. (5)

<1> Jenkins, F., 1965, News From The Groups: The Stour Valley Research Group, KAR 1 April 1965 16 (F Jenkins) (Article in serial). SKE8117.

<2> F1 ASP 05-JAN-65 (OS Card Reference). SKE41942.

<3> St Augustine's Abbey:Rpt on Excavs 1960-78 : KAS Mon IV 1988 7 (D Sherlock H Woods) (OS Card Reference). SKE49597.

<4> St Augustine's Abbey and the Royal Palace, CAT leaflet Dec 1984 plan (M Sparks T Tatton-Brown) (OS Card Reference). SKE49547.

<5> St Augustine's Abbey Eng Heritage Handbook 1988 33 (M Sparks) (OS Card Reference). SKE49578.