The chalk-and-pebble foundations of a small building (30' x 20', with a smaller rectangular projection at the east end) were exposed by bulldozing in 1959 on the south-westerly of the two summits of Mary-le-Bone Hill (TR 32255800), a mound in the South Poulders Marshes. They were considered to belong to a Chapel, because of the east-west orientation and the division into 'nave' and 'chancel' parts, and were dated by pottery finds to the 13th C. The presence of large flints, several pieces of Carrara marble and a tegula was taken as evidence that material for the building has been robbed from Richborough Castle. This may have been an early site of The Maldry (a Sandwich Leper Hospital), or was possibly connected with an enclosure by Leeds Priory which was the subject of a lawsuit in the early C14th. The name 'Mary-le-Bone' was not thought to be very significant as the earliest form traced was 'Marrowbone Hill' on the 1871 OS plan. The site is marked by a scatter of large flints in a ploughed field at TR 32205804. (1,2)
Field report (3).
See monument record for the motte and bailey soilmark, which may enclose the chapel (TR 35 NW 114).

<1> Archaeol Cant. 74, 1960 141-50 (J. Ogilvie) (OS Card Reference). SKE37261.

<2> F1 FGA 11-JUN-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE42913.

<3> Field report for monument TR 35 NW 47 - June, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE6066.