Between August and September 1945 the Canterbury Excavation Committee excavated on the site of the Countess of Huntingdon's chapel on the north side of Watling Street, 80 yards (c. 73m) from the Riding Gate.
The excavation was undertaken in an open cellar measuring 29m north south by 12m east west.
Evidence was seen of a deliberate raising of the ground surface in Roman times, probably to combat marshy conditions. Two streets were identified, the southern one on the same alignment as modern Watling Street and a norhern converging with the southern one somewhere near the Riding Gate.
A wall from a substanial Roman building, erected in the late 1st century, was also revealed running north south across the area between the two streets. It had been reduced to its foundation the 2nd-3rd century.

In 1947 Frank Jenkins and John Boyle excavated on 5, Watling Street, a site adjoining Lady Huntingdon's Chapel. The earliest deposit appeared to relate to a gravel quarry, thought to be a source for road material. Found in the earliest deposit was a coin dating to C. 12BC-40AD.
An early Roman rubbish pit, dating to C. 80 AD, was uncovered as well as the east face of Roman footings, late 1st-early second centuries AD, the west side of which had been uncovered by Audrey Williams in the 1945 excavations (entry 534). It was confirmed that the structure had been erected in the early second century and was reduced to its footings in the late second century.
There was no structural evidence of 4th century on the site but many sherds of pottery dating to this period were found. A noteworthy find was a pipe-clay figurine of a goddess depiced as holding a small animal in her arms.
Coins of Claudius II, Constantine I and Valens were also found.

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

Williams, A., 1948, Canterbury Excavations in 1945 (Article in serial). SKE30282.

Jenkins, F, 1953, Untitled Source (Serial). SKE30699.