TR 36006523. Excavations were carried out at the Nethercourt Estate (Stalrad Factory), Ramsgate, in 1982-3 in an area that had occasionally exhibited a complex cropmark. The investigations suggest a Romano British domestic site within ditched boundaries. Structures are represented by outlines of flint packed post-holes, or of courses of flints apparently buttressed with posts. A floor of rammed chalk, and shallow 'cellars' were observed. The main body of pottery from this site seems to be of mid-first century type. (1,2,3) TR 359653. Excavations on this site 1977-82 revealed a ditched enclosure covering about 4 acres and containing buildings of flint walls, timber frames and a system of post holes. This is possibly a farm villa with its outbuildings. In 1972 Romano-British pottery associated with cremation burials were found by workmen reparing the railway embankment. These included a Samian dish (present whereabouts unknown), a small carinated Upchurch urn (now with Thanet Archaeological Unit). In late 1977 trial trenching in the field south of the railway cuttingat TR 359652 revealed a system of shallow ditches of wide U section and with Roman potsherds in the fill. In 1982 rescue excavations over cropmarks on land south of the railwayat Ozengell centred on TR 35926525 revealed a complex system of ditches with circular and rectangular pits, viz. 1. a ditch of U section, 3m wide, 1m deep containing Romano-British potsherds. 2. remains of a building with a 'basement or cellar' 1m deep cut into the chalk. The walls were made of water-rolled flints. Fragments of tile and amphorae used in construction were also seen. 3. a circular floor of rammed chalk 3m in diameter. 4. There were also boundary ditches and rubbish pits cut into the chalk. (4)

The cropmark remains of fragmented ditches and suggestion of a large rectilinear ditched enclosure have been mapped from historic aerial photographs dating to prior construciton of the housing estates of Nethercourt. These fragmented enclosures and numerous large pits are likely to be the same features associated with a Romano-British site described above identified through excavation. (5) NRHE 469019 located to the east probably relates to part of the same large enclosure around the settlement all visible traces of which have been mapped and mapped as part of the Historic England: Ramsgate HAZ project. (5-6)

<1> Arch Cant 99 1983 272 (DRJ Perkins) (OS Card Reference). SKE36348.

<2> RCHME Excav Index Thanet Kent 9 PRN No 15330 (OS Card Reference). SKE48991.

<3> Thanet The Arch Heritage c.1982 10 (Thanet Dist Council and Isle of Thanet Arch Unit) (OS Card Reference). SKE49886.

<4> Isle of Thanet Arch Unit Sites and Mons Archive 1988 Rec no 160 (OS Card Reference). SKE44574.

<5> Oblique aerial photograph reference number (Photograph). SKE55477.

<6> Oblique aerial photograph reference number (Photograph). SKE55478.