In 2010 Canterbury Archaeological Trust carried out an evaluation at the site of 149-156 Snargate Street. Deposits were found relating to dumped material overlying beach shingle, dating from the 17th or 18th century when the area was first developed as part of the expansion of Dover town. Remains of buildings were found, again of 17th or 18th century date, though truncated by later 19th century structures, one of which was probably the Invicta public house. (1)

Further test trenching was carried out by Canterbury Archaeological Trust at the site in 2014, this work uncovered cellars associated with no. 149, 150, 152, 153, 154 and 155 Snargate Street. These cellars were between 1.5m and 2m deep and had been infilled. A number of post medieval walls were also located. Geotechnical boreholes excavated in March 2014 during a watching brief by Canterbury Archaeological Trust revealed the 19th century cellars at the site in greater detail. (2)

A third and final stage of archaeological investigation was undertaken at the site between January and March in 2016 by PCA. This work revealed further information about the properties which formerly fronted onto Snargate Street in this location in the post medieval period, including information about the basement of 153. Three walls were discovered representing the earliest phase of this basement, the walls formed part of the southern and western walls of the basement. The walls were of Ashlar blocks of chalk set in a chalky mortar and enclosed an area measuring over 3.4m by 4m. Pottery dating to 1550-1630 was and other small finds including a copper alloy pin recovered from within deposits associated with this basement. A series of thin surface make-up layers were observed to the west of the western wall of this basement, these may represent yard surfaces to the rear of the property and they contained material dating to 1600-1800. (3)

<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2010, Report on evaluation trenching at Nos 149−156 Snargate Street, Dover (Unpublished document). SKE18229.

<2> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2014, Report on a watching brief at Nos 149-156 Snargate Street, Dover, March 2014 (Unpublished document). SKE29383.

<3> PCA - Shane Maher, 2016, 149-156 Snargate Street, Dover, Kent - An Archaeological Assessment (Unpublished document). SKE32330.