In April 1985 The Canterbury Archaeological Trust undertook a small excavation to the immediate north of the Cametery Gate, St Augustine's Abbey. The work was taken in advance of reinforcement of the flint archway foundation of the gate. The sitecode was CG85.

The most interesting find was a Roman road leading from the Burgate and thought to head towards the Saxon shore fort at Richborough. It had previously been believed that it passed directly under the gate house but was in fact situated to the north of that position. The road consisted of at least seven metallings and the south verge was flanked by a clay and timber drain to take rain water from the road surface. The presence of a large wall foundation aligned parallel to the street and drain indicated that a large Roman building existed here.
Sealing the final road metalling was an interesting seqeunce of late Roman/early Saxon layers and features including the remains of a clay oven.

Anderson, I., 1985, Cemetery Gate, St Augustine's Abbey (Article in serial). SKE29993.