(TR 1454057478. Sited from plan p.25 auth 1, see illustration card). Excavations in advance of proposed redevelopment by Canterbury City Council were undertaken by the Canterbury Archaeological Trust from summer 1976 to Autumn 1977. An additional small trench was cut prior to the construction at a new building to the south of Gas Lane, in the autumn of 1975. The first occupation of the site was found to date to the mid-first century. A ditch of two phases in areas I and II and of possible military design was cut, aligned roughly NE-SW. The ditch fills contained large quantities of early Roman coarse ware together with stamped and decorated Samian dating from AD50-70. This occupation marked c70AD. In area II a sequence of Roman street metallings, dating from the later 1st century and aligned NE/SW were laid over what may have been the previously demolished rampart of its defensive sequence. Pits of the late-first to the late-third and fourth centuries were excavated. Two cremation burials at the late-first to the early- second century were uncovered to the east of the street in area II. The elements of one or more timber buildings of post-hole constructionof the mid-second century or later, with a sequence of clay or rubble floors and a timber-lined well, were found flanking the street to the east. A remarkable double inhumation with two swords, belt and scabbard fittings was located and may date to the second or early- third century; it may have been covered by the floors. A number of late Saxon pits cutting the post Roman levels were excavated as was the castle ditch. A number of C18th and C19th pits were emptied. These must relate to the period when area II was open gardens behind houses before the gasworks extension was built. (1)

<1> Arch of Canterbury 1 1982 21-59 plans (P Bennett, S Frere and S Stow) (OS Card Reference). SKE36838.