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 were 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 H, which was situated on the north eastern side of the excavated area, contained a chalk lined shaft at its north-western end, which can be dated to between c. 1175-1250.

Shaft 2539 is square/rectangular with internal measurements at the top of 0.97m (NW-SE) by a minimum of 0.9m (NE-SW). The full depth was not ascertained but it is at least 1.5m. It is lined with neatly shaped rectangular chalk blocks set in a grey chalky clay. The south west wall was not exposed; the south east wall is vertical while the north east and north west walls slope in towards the base. At a lower level the walls showed signs of bulging and their faces were partially eroded. This shaft was probably used as a cess pit and it cannot be firmly associated with any of the buildings at the site. (1)

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