A deep trench was dug in February 1949 for the purpose of linking the domestic sewers of St Bede's House, with the main sewer under Old Dover Road. The event has subsequently been given the site code ODR49.

The site was situated on the SE side of the road, 196.6m from the Riding Gate; and c. 118.9m from the Roman cemetery at St Sepulchre's. The tunnel was driven under the roadway from the edge of the pavement. At a depth of 2.74m below the modern surface a band of tightly packed gravel was encountered containing traces of chalk and a few small flints. A width of 3.2m. Was exposed from a point below the pavement towards the centre of the road where it was cut by the main sewer trench. At which point it was 31cm. Thick tailing off to about 5cm At the edge. It rested on clean yellow brickearth and was sealed by a similar deposit, which out in the open trench came to within 31cm. Of the surface. No finds from any period came from these deposits. The band was interpreted as the metalling of one section of Roman Watling Street.

Jenkins, F, 1950, The Roman Watling Street from Canterbury to Dover (Serial). SKE30834.