Evaluation at Boxley Abbey

Five small trial excavations were carried out in July 2022 - four in Field B to the north of the Hospitium and one in Field A to the north of the abbey itself. T1 (the largest of the excavations) and T2 examined a series of complex intersecting linear and annular anomalies which had been located by one or both of resistivity and magnetometer surveys. The excavated remains proved to be equally (or more) complex, with at least four phases of activity (mostly structural) recognised. The finds suggest that the earliest of these - a stone-lined culvert - was built and in use during the medieval period (Phase 1). It may have remained operational into the early post-medieval era (Phase 2), when a masonry building was added to its east. Later in the post-medieval era (Phase 3), a linear stone feature (possibly the base for a timber trackway) was built: this must have crossed the culvert, although the point of intersection was outside the excavations. Later still, perhaps in the 18th century (Phase 4), an annular surface of stone and flint gravel was laid down over the top of the track (the culvert was out of use and had been completely filled in by this point). This surface was probably a horse training track. A very early 19th-century estate plan at the Abbey shows a series of stable stalls in the west end of the Hospitium, with more stalls in a small detached block to its north. The track would therefore have provided an exercise and training facility for horses stabled here. All of these phases coincide with the geophysical anomalies, but their stratigraphic inter-relationships and functions could only be revealed by excavation. T4 and T5 were sited over very strong kiln-like anomalies in the magnetometer surveys: unfortunately both coincided with large iron rods/bars from estate-type fencing which had been dumped in the ground at shallow depths. Further investigation in T4 did not reveal any archaeological features (least of all a kiln); excavation of T5 ceased once the iron was found there. T3 assessed an area of high resistance to the south of the Abbey Gate, at the east end of the access road off Boarley Lane. Large quantities of post-medieval brick, tile and pottery were found just below the turf and topsoil, probably explaining the resistivity anomaly. Later medieval and earlier post-medieval pottery was also present, and a robber trench was revealed in the excavation. This probably formed the west end of the gate building and/or the precinct wall extending south-westwards from it.