Excavations and observations made in the area of Butchery Lane and Longmarket between 1868 (Pilbrow) and later, parts of whose southern and western wings and northern corridor were excavated by Audrey Williams in the mid 1940s. This work revealed the main Roman finds; the remains of a Roman courtyard building and a bath-house that had formed the north east range of the Roman courtyard building. All of the southern range had been incorporated into the Roman Pavement Museum in the mid 1950s. No additional information was discovered to refute or support either of the two possible interpretations- 'courtyard' house or Mansio (inn)-which have been offered for this site. A second building complex, which Mrs Williams had been unable to investigate to any great extent, was partially uncovered to the north of the Museum. This complex had undergone a particularly convoluted structural history, yet to be analysed in detail. Beyond lay a major east-west Roman road flanked by timber-lined drains. To the north of the road lay another property block.
Virtually no post-Roman 'dark earth' levels survived at Longmarket as a consequence of Medieval disturbance, particularly pit digging. (1-11)

An excavation in 1990 at the site identified evidence for a wall forming an E-W corridor, alongside the ends of two further walls. These were associated with tessellated floors, and evidence for a hypocaust in the form of a box-flue tile creating a vertical vent passing through the floor level. (13)

<1> Frere, S. S and Stow, S., 1983, Excavations in the St. George's Street and Burgate Street Areas. (Monograph). SKE29967.

<2> Andrews, G., 1985, An Assessment. Gazetteer of Excavations. Prehistoric, Belgic and Roman Excavations (Monograph). SKE30006.

<3> Pilbrow, J., 1871, Discoveries made during excavations at Canterbury in 1868 (Serial). SKE30226.

<4> Rady, J., DB1 (Digital archive). SKE29774.

<5> Rady, J., 1990, Longmarket: Butchery Lane Trial Trench (Graphic material). SKE29822.

<6> Rady, J., 1991, Longmarket (Article in serial). SKE29820.

<7> Pratt, S., 1992, Longmarket, Canterbury (Article in serial). SKE29818.

<8> Jenkins, F., 1960, Excavations, Discoveries and Local Notes, Canterbury (Artifact). SKE29952.

<9> Frere, S. & Williams, A., 1949, Canterbury Excavations, Christmas 1945 and Easter 1946 (Article in serial). SKE29816.

<10> Jenkins, F., Jenkins Archive Material (Unpublished document). SKE30008.

<11> Ordnance Survey, 1873, 1st edition map of Canterbury 1873 (Map). SKE30447.

<12> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2020, Drinking water bottle refilling station, Longmarket Square, Canterbury, Kent: Heritage Statement (Unpublished document). SKE55900.

<13> Swale & Thames Archaeological Survey Company, 2015, Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment in advance of the proposed development of Land to the rear of 37B Northgate, Canterbury, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE55988.