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 3 (c. 1550-1780) represents an increase in activity across the site, a series of buildings was constructed along Clarence Street (B47-51 and B53) with a cellared structure further to the south-east (B46). Building 51 was located on the north-west side of Clarence Street and is a replacement of the Medieval building 42.

It consisted of mortared stone wall footings on the north-east, south-east and south-west sides. The north-west wall lay beyond the excavation limits but the internal dimensions are about 6.9m (NE-SW) by at least 4.2m (NW-SE). Several phases of development are represented; the south-western wall appears to be a later addition and was abutted by a subsequent internal wall, it also ran across an earlier chalk block lined tank which was probably contemporary with the earliest walls of this building. Two walls at the south-west end of building 42 were retained and used as an annexe of building 51, the overall internal length of the building is thus 9.4m. The annexe was floored with clay but no contemporary floor survived within the main part of building 51. A sub-rectangular pit cut through the Medieval south-west wall down to the foundation level, this appeared to relate to an inserted doorway which gave access to a surfaced yard area which then occupied adjacent plot A. subsequently a chalk block boundary wall was constructed along the south east margin of plot A on a similar line and axis of the south-west wall of building 51. (1)

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