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 occupied by a succession of timber or stone structures, in all 8 individual building plots were identified and five of these were examined in detail. Plot G was a small plot between E and H and contained a succession of ten individual buildings. Buildings 8 and 17 were the fourth and fifth in the succession and may be dated to c. 1175-1225.

Building 8 replaces building 7 after a short period of abandonment. It consists of a very complex succession of 36 patchy rammed chalk and occasional clay floors separated by thin occupation layers implying intensive use of this building. Seven post holes located around the edges of the floors could relate to the outer walls. At the south-east end a raised circular hearth of burnt clay over a greensand slab had been rebuilt on the same spot several times.

Building 17, which was apparently built at the same time as building 16, and was directly over building 8. It is cut by a later foundation trench and part of the East Brook. It consists of a patchy lay and chalk floor laid directly upon a substantial chalk rubble soil and shingle platform. (1)

Building 19 was smaller than the previous buildings and constructed further to the north west. It consisted of a single rammed chalk floor with an overlying occupation layer. In fact, all of buildings 19 to 23 consist of small areas of patchy rammed chalk flooring in the same approximate area, some with associated occupation layers. The later buildings (22 and 23) are cut by later, post medieval, features. (1)

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