EDO5896 - Manston House, Manston; observations and recording 2013-14

Observations and recording during development involving demolition of two extensions and their replacement with one new extension. Monitoring took place during the excavation of the foundation trenches and later during the hand excavation of a cable trench located in the churchyard. The specific objective was to determine the presence of any features or dating material which might relate to earlier phases of the building or the possibility of a medieval manor house pre-dating it. The foundation trenches were up to 2m in depth and therefore examined from the top. The churchyard trench measured 20m in length, 0.25m width and 0.5m depth. No archaeological evidence was recorded in the trench. The exposed stratigraphic sequence was examined and possible levelling of parts of the site for previous building work noted. Walls were found below the ground surface aligned slightly differently to the existing building and a red brick structure thought to be the remains of a cellar. The slight misalignment may suggest it pre-dates the 1690 building. No indications were seen of any original entrances in the south wall to suggest that it communicated with a more southerly wing, making it more likely that the walls are of the pre-1690 house, mentioned in 1635 and subsequently demolished. No direct dating evidence was recovered. It was noted that depth at which the river terrace deposits were encountered would seem to suggest that the ground originally sloped down to the river from a point further to the east and that the current level promontory may be partially an artificial construction. The cable trench in the churchyard was dug in direct proximity to the existing graves, yet no archaeological remains were recorded and no finds retained. This is due to relatively small depth of the trench and the fact that ground was previously disturbed.