Between 1974 and 1975 Frank Jenkins undertook excavations on the Nave and Chancel of St Pancras Chapel, St Augustine’s Abbey after the demolition of the former Kent and Canterbury Hospital Building. The latest pit dug contained early fourth century sherds, after this pit was closed it was eventually covered by a low mound of dumped soil. The Chapel of St Pancras was built over this unlevelled surface during the seventh century, the area having been unoccupied since the end of the Roman period.

Several alterations and additions were to be made to the structure in the coming centuries. Soon after completion a wall was built to divide the cemetery east/west. A second major phase of building, c. 770-1000AD, saw alterations made with a characteristic white mortar rather than the original yellow. This included the building of the south chapel on part of the southern cemetery. Several graves had been disturbed during this process. Human remains were found from beneath the south porticus buttress and were C14 dated to c. AD890-970 AD. S E. Rigold dated a sceatta found during the excavation of one of the disturbed graves to c. 720-740AD and thought it locally produced.

Jenkins, F, St Pancras Chapel. STP74-75. Draft 5 (Unpublished document). SKE30369.