Townwall Street, Dover - Keith Parfitt

n 1996 Canterbury Archaeological Trust conducted major
excavations on the north-western side of Townwall Street, at
Dover, ahead of the reconstruction of a petrol station. The site
lies beyond the centre of the historic town, below Dover Castle,
about 150 metres inland from the present seashore. It stands upon
a ridge of sandy shingle, probably an earlier beach ridge.
Contrary to local tradition, there was no evidence that the
medieval town wall had ever crossed the site. Part of the area
lay over East Brook Water, a large tidal lagoon formed during the
sixteenth century.The earliest activity on the site occurred during the mid to late
twelfth century. In the later twelfth century (Period 1 c.1175-1300), more intensive occupation began. A small series of
building plots was established. Most of the Period 1 buildings
were dwellings. They were associated with large quantities of
domestic rubbish including broken pottery, small finds, animal
bones and fish bones. The medieval pottery recovered represents a
large and important assemblage, which has been analysed in some
detail. The significant amount of fish bone found, together with
many fish-hooks and other fishing equipment underlines the
importance of fishing to the people who lived in this area.
Following the densely packed timber buildings of Period 1, there
was a marked decline in activity from the end of the thirteenth
century. More intensive occupation resumed in the post-medieval
period (Period 3, c.1550-1780). A series of buildings was
constructed along Clarence Street, although the entire area on
the southern side of the street was eventually cleared to make
way for Clarence House and later, the Burlington Hotel. Extensive
War damage led to large-scale demolition and limited
re-development of the district during the 1950s and 60s.