Monument record TR 15 NW 2262 - Medieval Wall flanking Ridingate

Summary

In the Medieval period the city wall fell into decay and a building with chalk walls and an earth floor was erected on the surface of the bank. Later the bank of the Medieval defences was piled on its demolished remains. Much restoration work was carried out in c. 1790, in connection with the new Riding Gate.

Location

Grid reference Centred TR 1497 5746 (91m by 62m)
Map sheet TR15NW
County KENT
District CANTERBURY, KENT
Civil Parish CANTERBURY, CANTERBURY, KENT

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

In September 1948 The Canterbury Excavation Committee began work on a site 27.4m south of the Riding Gate on the city wall. At this location the city wall had suffered bomb damage in 1942. Two trenches were dug, one across the bank inside the wall, the other (4.88m further south beyond the major damage) against the outer face of the wall. Theses were coded C XIII CW A and B.

The trenches revealed that the Roman wall stood to a height of 2.44m on footings 0.91m deep and that the bank was contemporary with it with no earlier bank discernable. A late third-century date for the building of the defences seems certain; although most of the pottery from the bank itself was residual, sherds of mid to late third century date were found sealed by it. In the Medieval period the city wall fell into decay and a building with chalk walls and an earth floor was erected on the surface of the bank. Later the bank of the Medieval defences was piled on its demolished remains. Much restoration work was carried out in c. 1790, in connection with the new Riding Gate.


Frere, S. ?, 1949, Untitled Source (Article in serial). SKE30762.

Frere, SS, Stow, S, and Bennett, P, 1982, Excavations on the Roman and Medieval Defences of Canterbury. (Monograph). SKE28530.

Sources/Archives (2)

  • --- Monograph: Frere, SS, Stow, S, and Bennett, P. 1982. Excavations on the Roman and Medieval Defences of Canterbury..
  • --- Article in serial: Frere, S. ?. 1949. Journal of Roman Studies XXXIX.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (1)

  • Intrusive Event: Excavation south of Riding Gate, Canterbury, 1948 (Ref: CAT: 115) (EKE14083)

Record last edited

Jul 7 2015 2:36PM