During excavations undertaken by Canterbury Archaeological Trust, ahead of the rebuilding of the Townwall Street filling Station, Dover, a complex series of stratified archaeological deposits were revealed representing activity at the site between the early Medieval period and later post medieval periods. Period 1; 1175-1300 is the first time intensive colonisation of the site began (before had been only superficial activity within the area; Period 0). A series of building plots was established, each occupies by a succession of timber or stone structures, in all 8 individual building plots were identified and five of these were examined in detail. Building 31 was located in plot A at the north eastern side of the site and was the second in a series of three buildings to be located in this area. The building was built over building three but the intervening alignments of chalk rubble imply a short time gap between. It was erected on a platform of loose beach shingle revelled by rough retaining walls of chalk, greensand and flint; it also incorporated three water rolled granite boulders. The foundation platform was capped by a 0.2m thick layer of rammed chalk rubble which formed the floor. A shallow beam slot for the outer wall was apparent on the south east and south west sides. Filling of both of these slots contained charred timber, ash and burnt daub indicating destruction by fire a single post hole on the south eastern side may indicate the location of a door post for the entrance.

Two successive circular clay ovens were located in the south western corner of the building; they were about 1m in diameter and showed outlines of charred wattle framework in its walling. At the north east end an extensive area of intense surface burning probably represents an open hearth.

Over 1000 sherds of pottery were recovered from various deposits associated with this building along with a wide range of small finds. (1)

<1> Keith Parfitt, Barry Corke and John Cotter, 2006, Townwall Street, Dover: Excavations 1996 (Monograph). SKE31840.