During November and December 1987, a salvage excavation was undertaken at 1-11 Linden Grove during the construction of housing. A delay in notification to the Canterbury Archaeological Trust concerning this proposed residential housing scheme meant archaeological involvement was undertaken when construction groundworks had already commenced.

Important archaeological evidence of Roman occupation in the development area itself was salvaged, with the site being located within the north-western suburbs of the Roman town. The principal feature discovered in the sides and bases of the foundation trenches was a previously unknown Roman street. The street, probably aligned NW to SE was approximately 4m wide and consisted of at least ten individual gravel surfaces lying above natural brickearth. The road was laid out parallel to major Roman streets at London Gate and West Gate.

Although it proved impossible to excavate archaeological features in detail, many rubbish pits, the metallings and side drains of the road and the fragmentary remains of at least two kilns were recorded in section and sampled. Prolific ceramic debris associated with the kilns was also observed, being mainly dated to the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. One of the kilns was approximately 1m in diameter and had on its base the remnants of a small fired clay pedestal. The other kiln's dimensions could not be deduced, but it's infill contained remains of fire-bars and a quantity of 'waster' sherds (ie, mis-fired and broken pottery), including one complete pre-Flavian jar.

The use of the area for industrial purposes possibly ended in the late 2nd century AD, but the Roman road probably continued in use (based on the depth of its metalled surfaces and the complex sequence of side drains) until its likely abandonment in the later 3rd century AD.
Later use of the development area as a cemetery was indicated by the discovery of two inhumation burials in the NW corner of the development zone. Both burials were aligned EW, with their heads to the west. One grave almost certainly contained a coffin. A small number of pits were also discovered, which cut the Roman street's metalling, and were probably of Medieval date. One pit containing large quantities of daub with wattle impressions may have been earlier. A large number of post-Medieval or later archaeological features were also recorded.

Bennett, P., 1989, Linden Grove (Article in serial). SKE30820.