Monument record TR 15 NW 2179 - Roman Shop/Industrial Building, 35 St. Margaret's Street

In May 1979 the Canterbury Archaeological Trust excavated within the cellar of No. 35 St Margaret's Street. The work was in advance of the lowering of the cellar to accommodate a bistro.

Four phases of occupation, dating to between c.70-110 AD, on the site were revealed. Evidence of enamelling and bronze smithing in the form of crucible fragments and driblets of molten bronze was recovered from Phase D. However, it is not clear whether the hearths and ovens associated with the crucibles were part of a workshop or whether the industrial waste was rubbish dumped away from its place of origin.

The shaft of an early Roman well was found to have been backfilled, although it continued to subside and the edges of the later Roman stratigraphy collapsed into it throughout the later Medieval period. (1,2)

Excavations at 35 St Margaret’s Street, Canterbury between 2008 and 2010 extended earlier investigations and revealed evidence of occupation predating the early Roman phases previously identified. The earliest remains comprised late Iron Age to early Roman stake-built structures, including a circular building with multiple post replacements, associated hearths, occupation deposits and refuse pits. These were succeeded by areas of burnt clay, possible industrial activity and a substantial ditch that may have marked a boundary. The site was later occupied by an early Roman courtyard containing a flint-lined well, followed by timber buildings. Medieval pits cut the Roman sequence, demonstrating continued but intermittent use of the area.(3)

<1> Blockley, K., Blockley, M., Blockley, P., Frere, S. and Stow, S., 1995, Excavations in the Marlowe Car Park and Surrounding Areas. Part 1: The Excavated Sites (Monograph). SKE29969.

<2> Andrews, G., 1985, The Archaeology of Canterbury: An Assessment (Unpublished document). SKE30429.

<3> Canterbury Archaeology, 2011, Canterbury Archaeology Annual Report 2010-2011 (Unpublished document). SKE57656.