In connection with the proposed construction of a new Lidl supermarket with basement car parking a series of 11 test pits and 2 boreholes were excavated. The site is located on the eastern side of Dover at the junction of Castle Street with Maison Dieu Road. These works were observed by members of Canterbury Archaeological Trust. In Test pits 1, 4, 5 and 10, which were situated in the Yard area outside of the building, revealed a series of stratified grey soils beginning at depths of between 1.1m-1.7m below the present ground level, these contained finds dating to the Medieval period. The finds included imported West Country slate alongside occasional oyster shells and animal bones. One piece of Medieval pottery was uncovered amongst these deposits in the form of a base sherd which has been provisionally dated to the 13th -14th century. Alongside the Medieval material recovered from these deposits, three sherds of Roman peg tile and a single pottery sherd were also recovered from Test Pit 10. These sherds are probably residual and may be derived from the sand and shingle spit to the south east, which is known to contain Roman material. Despite the medieval material recovered from these soils, they do not represent any definite evidence of occupation at this site in the Medieval period and the deposits are likely to be a natural accumulation of river derived silts. The lowest levels are water logged and the preservation of organic material, especially timber, may be anticipated. (1)

<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, Report on Archaeological Observations of Soil Test-Pits dug at the New Lidl Supermarket Site, Dover, February - March 2001 (Unpublished document). SKE12155.