PUB GARDEN DIG UNEARTHS A TREASURE TROVE OF HISTORY

An archaeological excavation in a Faversham pub garden has unearthed a treasure trove of Roman and Anglo-Saxon finds.
 
When licensees David and Sue Potts invited a team of volunteers from the Faversham Society Archaeological Research Group into the garden of the Market Inn pub in East Street, Faversham, they had no idea of the scale of the discoveries that would be made.
 
David, who himself has a history degree and a keen interest in local history, said: “I knew that these guys had been looking for Saxon finds in Faversham for a while, in particular the so called Kings Manor, and I suspected there might be some evidence of human activity near the pub, but I don’t think anybody expected anything on this scale.”
 
Dr Pat Reid, who oversaw the dig, said: “What we have found is an early Anglo-Saxon site, which we’ve been searching for in Faversham for the last 15 years. We asked Sue and David whether we could dig here and fortunately they agreed. They have both been tremendously helpful throughout and great hosts.
 
“We have found some amazing examples of Anglo-Saxon pottery and also a large number of animal bones, in particular deer and even wild boar. We’ve also found quite a lot of slag, which suggests that some metal working went on in the area.
 
“These things have been in the ground for around fifteen hundred years, so it’s quite a thrill to discover them.”
 
The finds are believed to be part of the elusive Kings Manor, a royal manor suspected to be located on higher ground in Faversham. Archaeologists have been searching for evidence of it for many years.
 
The Market Inn remained open for business as usual throughout the dig, which has now ended.

To find out more, contact FSARG via their website.