Monument record TQ 97 SE 107 - Anglo-Saxon features, St George's School

In 1996/7 Canterbury Archaeological Trust carried out a watching brief. Anglo-Saxon features, including a sunken featured building, were found on the site. Pottery of early to mid Saxon date was found, possibly of 7th century date. Other features of this date included a ditch that crossed the site. Undated, but possibly Saxon, features were also found, including a hearth.

Following the abandonment of the 7th century building, the site was used from the 8th to the mid 9th century. A pit was found but could only be hurriedly investigated. It was possibly a rubbish pit of 8th-mid 9th century date. Further pits were found and thought to be of similar date, as was a ditch. A line of post holes may have related to either a fence line or a building. (1)

A heritage impact assessment of a nearby site described the Anglo-Saxon features and a sunken featured building alongside post-hole structures. The site was interpreted as an enclosure site for livestock. Pottery recovered from the fills of features dated to between around 670 AD to the mid 9th century. Abandonment of the site coincided with the first Viking raids of 835 AD and 855 AD. (2)

<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 1998, St George's School and Playing Fields, Minster-in-Sheppey: Archaeological Watching Brief (Unpublished document). SKE18095.

<2> Swale and Thames Archaeological Survey Company, 2022, Land North East Of Nelson Avenue, Minster, Sheppey, Kent; Heritage Impact Assessment (Unpublished document). SKE56605.