The mechanical levelling of ground prior to the construction of the approach road (now Market Way) to the new cattle market off the east side of St Stephen's Road in December 1952 led to the discovery and excavation of a large Belgic/early Roman tile kiln and two Roman pottery kilns. The site lay on the north side of the river Stour, on gently rising ground. Brickearth extended across the whole of the excavated area. For the purposes of archaeological recording the aligment of the new approach raod was divided into Areas I and II.

Area I included the large tile kiln (centred TR 1502158790) which was subject to complete excavation during early 1953 excavation trench located between 1501658794 west and 1502458787 east). Tile was scattered over the original ground surface for some distance to the north (centred TR 1503258800) and east (centred TR 150298785). Little pottery was recovered from the site. Finds consisted mainly of building tiles, including a few pieces of flue tile and also some near complete examples of pilae. Four post holes were interpreted as a lean-to. One of the post holes was cut by a later Roman pit.

Cross, R., North Lane Area Archaeological Events Record. File 2. (Monograph). SKE30540.

Jenkins, F., 1956, A Roman Tilery and Two Pottery Kilns at Durovernum (Canterbury) (Serial). SKE30539.

Cook, R. M. & Belshé, J. C., 1958, Archaeomagnetism: A Preliminary Report on Britain (Serial). SKE30538.