Test pitting was undertaken by Canterbury Archaeological Trust, in the entrance courtyard to the Grand Shaft off Snargate Street in 1994. A small excavation on the outside of the north-east boundary wall to the shaft complex was conducted, this was intended to ascertain the depth of a section of brick underpinning supporting part of the exposed wall foundations. This demonstrated that the underpinning, in fact related to a subterranean brick structure, partially built into the base of the boundary wall. Given that this area was formerly occupied by the Wesleyan Chapel, it seems likely that the structure represents a burial vault. Excavation in the south corner of the structure indicated that it continued for at least another 0.4m. The filling of the structure was loosely compacted grey loam with chalk and red brick rubble. It would seem that, if the brick structure does represent a burial vault, it has been previously emptied and backfilled. Other vaults may exist in the area and could be exposed during further excavation work on the site. (1)

<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 1994, The Dover Grand Shaft Project Snargate Street Entrance Report on Second Phase Ground Works (Unpublished document). SKE8368.