In 1999 the Trust for Thanet Archaeology carried out an evaluation of land at East Northdown Farm. Ditches were found containing early medieval pottery. The scatter of material suggested agricultural use of the site rather than domestic. A large number of limpet shells were also recovered from the ditches. (1)

In 1999 and 2000 Museum of London Archaeology Service carried out a programme of works that revealed more of the ditches found earlier and the full character of the site. Four phases of occupation from the mid 11th century through to the late 15th century were identified.

In the southwest half of the eastern part of the site, a series of intercutting ditches and gullies forming successive palisades or enclosures were found. A complex of ovens or kilns and a square enclosure containing possible structures were also found. The ovens or kilns had been enclosed by a possibly open-fronted structure with a solid wall to the rear, perhaps to shelter them from sea winds. No industrial residues were found associated with these ovens, it is therefore possible that they were for agricultural processing, perhaps malting. They were dated to the 12th century. The square enclosure contained two rectangular sunken features, either sunken featured buildings or under floor spaces of buildings for which all other traces (sill beams, post holes etc.) have been removed by later truncation. This activity was dated to the mid 13th to mid 14th century.

In the northeast half of the eastern part of the site, partial elements of three potential enclosure systems were found, along with part of a possible sunken featured building and two ovens. The enclosures dated from the mid 11th through to the 12th century. The building and ovens dated to the 12th century.

The western part of the site was excavated in 2000 and contained a possible enclosure system, intercutting pits and rectangular features that may have been related to buildings within the enclosures. Modern truncation had removed all evidence in one part of the site. Most of buildings dated to the mid 13th to mid 14th century, whilst the pits dated to the late 14th to the late 15th century.

In total, the site is though to represent an agricultural site, with track ways, fields and enclosures with associated buildings, perhaps for storage of produce. It has been suggested that it may therefore be an organised work site, rather than an organically developed domestic site. It could therefore be a grange or manorial farmstead. (2)

The features are visible as cropmarks on NMR 2116/0123 01-JUN-1982. The features have been built over on the latest Next Perspectives APGB Imagery 07-APR-2021. The features were mapped as part of the Thanet Landscape Mapping Project. (3-4)

<1> Trust for Thanet Archaeology, 1999, An Archaeological Evaluation at East Northdown Farm, Margate (Unpublished document). SKE17201.

<2> Museum of London Archaeology Service, 2000, East Northdown Farm, Botany Road, Margate - Archaeological Investigations: An Interim Report (Unpublished document). SKE17620.

<3> Historic England Archive, 1920-2024, Historic England Archive Specialist oblique aerial photographs, NMR 2116/0123 01-JUN-1982 (Archive). SKE57106.

<4> Next Perspectives, 2003-2021, Next Perspectives APGB orthophotography, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery 07-APR-2021 (Archive). SKE57110.