An evaluation was commissioned by Moreland Jones Developments LTD for the proposed development at nos 7-8, Gordon Road. The evaluation was carried out in March 1997 and the site code was GR97. A single trench was excavated across the site, from the road frontage to the rear.

It is thought that the earliest level to be examined, surviving only in the extreme NW of the trench, was a pre- or early-Roman topsoil. In the south of the trench 3 features were uncovered also thought to be of an early provenance though all were badly disturbed or only partially excavated. This early top soil was apparently sealed by what was interpreted as Roman Street metalling, possibly part of Roman Stone Street, known in this area. At its margins the deposit was badly disturbed by later features and plough action but enough remained to indicate it was the western side of the street with an east to west sloping camber. The position and camber of the surviving metalled survive, suggests that most of the area under consideration would have been covered by street metallings during the Roman period. This probably explains why no contemporary burial were found within the trench, although previously some have been found within or very close to, the site boundaries. These must have been interred on the very margins of the street or even within the road drains, not uncommon occurences during this period.

Rady, J., 1997, An Archaeological Evaluation at 7-8 Gordon Road, Canterbury March 1997 (Excavation archive). SKE30801.