In 1979 The Canterbury Archaeological Trust excavated upon the site of the current 18-20 Marlowe Arcade. This was in advance of redevelopment of the site. The sitecode was MIII.

Timber buildings, dating to c. 100-320 AD, were excavated (R5, R6 and 7). R6 was a rebuild on the site of R5 which in turn overlay building R2. The remains indicated a major building programme in the area c. AD 100-110 and the establishment of the baths and a street, represented by a Roman Gravel Road Surface. Continuity in planning is indicated by the fact the new street was on the same alignment as the now demolished buildings R1 and R2.

A major redevelopment of the area is thought to have been undertaken in the period 300-320 AD when a substantial masonry town-house, R26 was constructed wih a private bath wing and the portico of the Roman baths were reconstructed. A brick-lined sewer was also found to have been inserted along the south side of the Roman street. Building R26 was also substantially altered in the second half of the 4th century, although it was extensively robbed towards the close of the century. After the robbing of the masonry evidence was found that a timber structure was erected wihtin the shell of R26, dating to the late 4th/early 5th century.
As in many parts of Canterbury area MIII was seen to have a layer of 'dark earth' forming after the end of the Roman period, from the first quarter of the 5th century onwards. A hoard of coins found within this layer dated this formation.

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

Blockley, K., Blockley, M., Blockley, P., Frere, S. and Stow, S., 1995, Excavations in the Marlowe Car Park and Surrounding Areas. Part 1: The Excavated Sites (Monograph). SKE29969.