In 2005 Canterbury Archaeological Trust carried out an evaluation. A ditch was located in one area. It contained marine shells, mostly mussel in the upper fills but a considerable volume of cockle, mussel, oyster and whelk shells in lower fills, along with animal bone, several struck flints and pottery. The pottery was flint-tempered and may be of Bronze Age or Iron Age date. (1)

The site was later investigated via a strip map and sample excavation where the ditch was again revealed, alongside three pits. The ditch was traced within the western area of the site for an approximate total length of 28m and had a roughly north-west to south-east alignment. The ditch measured 2–2.40m in width, and 0.80–1.10m deep with an abrupt break of slope from the top, steeply sloping sides and a flattish base. The ditch contained between two and three fills plus a possible infilled re-cut. The primary fill comprised a light greyish-brown, friable clay-silty-chalk, up to 0.16m thick, that contained rare flecks of charcoal. Ten sherds of mid–late Bronze Age (1100–900 BC) pottery were retrieved from part of this fill. In one of the interventions the primary fill was overlain by by a fine light brown, clay-chalky silt containing large flint nodules and chalk fragments, between 0.10m and 0.24m thick; the thickness greater on the western side suggesting it may have entered the ditch from this direction. A light brown claysilty chalk between 0.04m and 0.44m thick sealed earlier deposits, and contained inclusions of rare daub flecks, mussel, oyster, and cockle-shell, snail shell and large fragments of chalk. Eighteen sherds of mid–late Bronze Age (1100–900 BC) pottery were retrieved from this layer. The ditch likely represents part of an enclosure/boundary ditch and represents contemporary activity in the vicinity.

A shallow oblong pit-like feature was identified south-west of the ditch, and measured 1.17m by 2.42m, with a depth of 0.16m. The primary fill measured 0.14m deep and comprised moderately compact orange-brown, sandy clay with inclusions of daub and charcoal flecks. This was sealed by dark orange-brown silty-sandy-clay, 0.16m thick, with inclusions of charcoal and daub flecks. Twenty-four sherds of prehistoric pottery were recovered from the secondary deposit and mainly date from the mid Bronze Age to the early Iron Age (1100–600 BC) although one sherd was dated to the mid Iron Age 500–200 BC. A possible post hole immediately to the west of the ditch and a second pit in the eastern portion of the site were also revealed but these did not have any associated finds and remain undated. (information summarised from source) (2)

<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2005, Report on Evaluation Trenching (Phase 1) at the Royal Sea Bathing Hospital, Margate, June 2005 (Unpublished document). SKE18188.

<2> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2019, Land adjacent to the Royal Sea Bathing Hospital, Canterbury Road, Margate, Kent, CT9 5NT, Phase 1 Assessment Report (Unpublished document). SKE53190.