remains of timber framed building
During March 2000 The Canterbury Archaeological Trust excavated upon land at St Stephen's Fields, just north of North Lane and immediately west of Station Road West. The work was in advance of a residential development and followed an earlier evaluation. The sitecode was SSF00. The area of excavation measured c. 10.5 x 8.0m in extent. Overburden was removed by machine down to the first significant archaeological horizon. Subsequent contexts were mostly removed by hand. The work revealed a modern, 20th century overburden overlying a complicated sequence of post-Medieval (probably Victorian) building and yard deposits. These in turn sealed, replaced or encapsulated the fragmented remains of an earlier timber-framed structure or structures, represented by stone and chalk built dwarf walls and badly disturbed floors. Where the deposits below were exposed, they appeared to be those laid down by natural processes. No archaeological features or finds dating to earlier than the 13th century were observed. The primary deposits were alluvial in nature and were almost certainly the result of inwash and flooding from the nearby Stour. The meagre dating evidence suggests that the earliest structure was erected in the late 15th or early 16th century, perhaps as late as 1525-50. Unfortunatley it is impossible to determine the full plan, extent or exact nature of that structure due to the intensity of later disturbance. This far from the road, the building probably represents outbuildings or a detached kitchen relating to a property on the North Lane frontage. The structure had been demolished or partially removed by 1700-50. The Brick buildings date from c. 1750 at the earliest and more probably from the latter quarter of 18th century. This complex was almost certainly in industrial or commercial use as were many of the buildings in this area during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The remains clearly indicate that the industrial traditions of the area, evident from the Roman period onwards, have continued virtually to the present day.

Linklater, A. & Rady, J., 2001, An Archaeological Excavation on Land at St Stephen's Fields, Canterbury, Archive Report (Excavation archive). SKE30947.

Linklater, A. & Rady, J., 2002, St Stephen's Fields (Article in serial). SKE30946.