Monument record TR 15 NE 1566 - Roman cremations and pits, Longport, Sessions House

In August 1997 the Canterbury Archaeological Trust undertook a 6 week excavation of the Old Session House, Longport, prior to conversion for use by Christ Church College. Although not written up it is known that 6 (?) Roman cremation burials were uncovered as well as some quarry pits. Finds and features dating from the Roman, Anglo-Saxon, Medieval and post-Medieval were also found. (1,2)

A desk-based assessment of the site carried out in 2022 describes several excavations taking place at the site, including an excavation for an extension to the building. The assessment stated that 9 Roman cremation burials were excavated at the site in in total, which dated from 43-130 AD, and that following this, the site had been open ground with some pit digging taking place between the late 2nd-early 4th centuries. (3)

<1> Pratt, S., 2002, Personal Comment, Simon Pratt (Verbal communication). SKE30351.

<2> Rady, J., DB1 (Digital archive). SKE29774.

<3> CgMs, 2016, ARCHAEOLOGICAL STATEMENT Including, Desk Based Assessment, Watching Brief Report on Geotechnical Site Investigations , Archaeological Evaluation Report, Former HMP Canterbury, Canterbury Christ Church University Campus Canterbury Kent (Unpublished document). SKE57658.