The medieval findings at Minnis Bay, Birchington, site of the lost settlement of Gore End, limb of the Cinque Port of Dover

trevor and vera gibbons

This fourth and final article on the Minnis Bay excavations of Antoinette Powell-Cotton describes her medieval findings in numerous pits on the foreshore.

Between 1969-72 Nigel Macpherson-Grant [NMG[, then a newcomer to archaeology work, was employed at the Powell-Cotton Museum [PCM] under the guidance of Antoinette Powell-Cotton to collate all the reports on the medieval material found. These notes are held in the Museum’s archive and his excellent overview of the results is set out in the first section of this paper.

The settlement of Minnis Bay was originally called Gore End, a non-corporate limb of the Cinque Port of Dover. A brief note on what can be gleaned on this settlement from documentary sources is given in an Appendix.

Nigel Macpherson-Grant’s summary notes of 1970

[Note. Up to 1970 only 38 Medieval pits had been discovered. However, in 1970 Macpherson-Grant was given the task of excavating a recently exposed medieval well adjacent to the promenade. This is recorded in the archives as ‘Nigel’s Hole’ or Med 39. To save confusion with the Late Iron Age wells that are prefixed ‘Well’ the medieval wells and pits were prefixed ‘Med’. His report specifically refers to medieval ‘wells’ by numbers. Therefore, for example, the 26th well from the Medieval excavations was numbered ‘Med 26’, as seen on the plans in this report.]

At present there are a total of 39 wells, only three of which have not been excavated. These are distributed on the chalk foreshore in two main groups on either side of the old creek bed, which was probably a shallow tidal inlet during the medieval period. There are two more wells further west at the beginning of the seawall to Reculver. The fairly frequent occurrence of little worn thirteenth-century sherds in this area suggests the likelihood of other wells. All wells are of late thirteenth/early fourteenth century, except for well 14 which is late fourteenth/early fifteenth.Two others, wells 3 and 11 containing shell-tempered pottery, are early/mid thirteenth, both occurring on the east bank.

As a result of fairly rapid erosion – the chalk cliffs through which the wells were originally sunk retreated at a rather unlikely rate of 2-3ft a year – till the present sea wall was built in 1966. A chalk wave cut platform has been left and it is on this that the well bases have been found. Only the bottom few feet remain, the average depth being 1-2ft and at least 6 are under 1ft deep. Bearing in mind the height of the cliffs today the original well shafts cannot have been more than 20ft deep, and considerably less among those of the west bank group – probably no more than 10ft. Most wells average 3ft 6in.-2ft 6in. in diameter – only 4 wells are larger: Wells 14 and 15 at c.4ft., Well 20 at 5ft and Well 3 slightly over the latter. Some of the measurements are necessarily approximate since in many cases the wells have been dug into soft mushy chalk and true edges are difficult to define. The majority have been cut round, four are oval – Wells 8, 9, 25 and 36. The latter had narrow slot in the side. Well 21 appeared to be two wells together, although this may be a deliberate enlargement. Well 35 was 5-sided though not necessarily for its full depth. Most had rough sides and bases, in particular Well 11 with soft broken chalk surround. Well 6 was the only extant example with large well-cut chalk bricks lining the sides (2 courses remaining). Quite possibly other wells were similarly lined, any trace of which has now gone. Such a lining however depends partially on the hardness of the chalk through which the wells were initially sunk, and since none of the Belgic or Romano-British wells, also present in Minnis Bay, show any traces of having been lined either with wood or chalk blocks, there is no reason why the same should not apply to those of medieval date. The siting of the wells is important, in that it suggests that when dug, fresh water was available, still uncontaminated by any salt water percolation, either from the coast or the creek.

Contents and filling

Apart from artefacts well fillings seem generally mixed. Due to the difficulties involved during excavation of the wells – the three main ones being the tidal time factor, the keeping of surface water out of the excavation and springs in the well side – it was virtually impossible to record precise stratigraphical measurements. Under conditions when a bad spring can cause the well walls to crumble any attempt to make a neat section becomes impractical. However enough information is available from which certain conclusions can be drawn with more than a fair degree of certainty. In 13 of the wells Clay forms the first layer exposed, this together with flints and chalk lumps in the others must represent post erosion deposits. In 27 out of the 35 wells excavated mixed earth and clay lumps form the major fill – in some cases there are genuine earth fills – perhaps from backfilling or erosion around the well edges once they were out of use. More often though the earth is mixed with a fine rather chalky silt, which may represent the gradual accretions of seeping groundwater or the chips and flakes of chalk from the sides as buckets are lowered.

Thin rods and twigs, together with leaves, possible grass and rushes occur in at least 20 wells, and though some of this would be accidental or the individual well being a convenient source of rubbish disposal, one is tempted to think that some must indicate the decay of a former, possibly thatched lych cover to the wells. The basal deposits are either Chalk rubble or a chalky fawn-coloured clay. In most cases the major sized sherds are found in these layers or around the sides rather than in the earthier fills. The archaeological contents are certainly accidental losses initially but thereafter represent domestic rubbish once the wells became contaminated, possibly through seepage of salt water.

The majority of wells have some pottery contents, even if only represented by one sherd. Nine have no dateable artefacts, but their grouping with others makes their inclusion as Medieval beyond doubt. Wells 1, 4, 26 and 39 have 14 vessels each and 21 and 30 have 10 and 12 respectively but these are extremes and the rest have far fewer. Of the other artefact types present, bone is the most frequently represented after pottery and occurs in 16 wells, a number of which contain small rodents such as mice and vole. Wood is next in frequency; in this only definitely recognizable objects are counted as opposed to the numerous amorphous fragments of twigs and sticks. Well 19 contained 15 individual articles. Of the 9 wells containing leather, on average there is one piece per well, though there are 3 from Well 18 and the same from the recently excavated Well 39. Metal, as iron, occurs definitely in only 3 wells and is the least represented artefact. Stone again not common, is present in only 7, of which 2 may be modern intrusions. In summary, then, pottery is undeniably the most frequently recurring artefact type.

Pottery

With over 130 individual vessels represented from the Minnis Bay wells, many repeating forms already published by Frere. With the exception of the few imported wares all the material is from the Tyler Hill area, north of Canterbury; a further exception perhaps are the earlier calcite-tempered wares.

As one might expect, jugs are common, over 85% of the total vessel number. There are two basic formal types, now becoming common in east Kent, for the late thirteenth/early fourteenth century – the main period of well use at Minnis Bay: jugs with fairly tall, semi-ovoid bodies, without exception supported on thumb-pressed bases and others generally with short necks and large globular shape, often quite massive. The latter have plain sagging bases, though when feet are included, the thumb presses are grouped, rather than continuous. The former type seems more common. Low squat jugs with wide, flattish bases seem generally rare, not only here, but throughout the geographical range of Tyler Hill wares. Rims vary in minor details, but all are slightly everted, with flat or partially concave tops. Spouts are, usually, simply pinched, rarely prominent; however, the spout on a Tyler Hill jug from Well 26 is exceptional in that it is a classic ‘parrot-beak’ spout minus any supporting bridge. There is a possibility that it is a copy, in basic form at least, of the spout form found on imported jugs from south-west France. Plain rather narrow, strap handles predominate, with a tendency for a raised spinal thickening and thinned edges. However, the complete jug from Well 4 has a rod handle with a long vertical thumb-stroke at the base. The earlier, broad strap handles with raised, thumb-pressed edges are missing from this site, bar one isolated example – a handle fragment from a possible well base.

Finally, the few fragmentary sherds of cooking-pots, mostly rims or smoke-stained bases, belong once again to the main phase at Minnis. All have the standard markedly everted rim of the period, with slightly inward-sloping lip. The one bowl rim, also typical, with broad outward flange, is stabbed, like the cooking-pots, but in this instance, rather than a vertical pin stab, the pin has been pushed through from the inside edge of the rim to the outside, appearing below the rim just under the skin. It has been decorated with vertical thumb-pressed strips, more commonly associated with cooking-pots.

Wooden articles

It can be stated that the wood articles are feasibly unique for East Kent, if not for Kent as a whole. Wood was preserved in the Seasalter salt extraction mounds near Whitstable where ‘rakes’, a wooden bowl and a wooden mallet came to light. None of these display the interesting features of joinery and carpentry that the wood from the Med Wells [Minnis Bay] have shown e.g. dowel jointing, slats of wood joined together with pegs, bucket staves hoops and tusk tenons.

the main findings in medieval pits made by antoinette powell-cotton

The largest group of pits excavated on the foreshore of Minnis Bay between 1954 and 1974 were those of the Medieval period, pits Med 1 to Med 41 (Gibbons 2017, 272). These were distributed between the west (Fig. 1) and east banks (Fig. 2) of the creek that still existed in Medieval times (Gibbons 2017, 258). They were the most southerly related group of pits excavated on the foreshore. Individually, 37 of the pits revealed sufficient evidence of the Medieval period many with excellent examples of pottery and leather. Artefacts ranged from a huge bone, presumably from a whale, to leather shoes, pieces of wood and metal work, jugs and much domestic debris of pots etc. Med 22 contained plant material carefully noted at the time of the excavation.

Med 1: Pottery from 14 vessels and leather

Signs of Medieval activity at Minnis Bay had already been discovered in 1947 by Roy Carr (Gibbons 2017, 264). but it was not until March 1954 that Antoinette found her first Medieval pit, Med 1. The pit yielded sufficient sherds to reconstruct a jug with a pie crust base; a second jug inclusive of handle, with 4 pairs of evenly spaced thumb presses to the base (Fig. 3); other sherds; pieces of worked wood and part of an edge stitched leather bag or pouch (Fig. 4), measuring 32cm at its widest and 25.5cm at its greatest height; with it was a leather thong. It is now held at Maidstone Museum where it was sent for preservation.

Amongst the sherds of Med 1 were examples of Scarborough and Tyler Hill wares including two 13th-cenutry handle pieces, one ribbed with a yellow-green glaze (Fig. 5) and the other with three rows of stabs (Fig. 6) along its length. A few pieces of metal and stone were among the artefacts. Several pieces of wood were excavated including a rod with a flat base and sides and rounded top surface which was broken into 9 pieces apparently at weak points created by drill holes. One piece has part of a wooden peg in situ. Others have broad or narrow holes probably for pegs or nails.

Med 4: Wood and pottery from 14 vessels

A warped and brittle plank (Fig. 7) was found in Antoinette’s fourth pit, Med 4. It is 9.5cm x 22cm maximum length. The plank featured two much rusted hinges. One hinge plate had a shaped end with one nail hole, the other plate was only half complete. The hinge plates continue onto the reverse side. There is one original nail hole between the two hinge plates. At the time of excavation this was thought to be possibly part of the well cover. Amongst the pottery sherds of Med 4 was a tallish complete 13th-century jug (Fig. 8) in sand-tempered fairly fine ware, with deep stabbed narrow strap handle, a good example of the quality of the 14 pots identified from Med 4.

Med 6: The Roy Carr ‘dipping well’ mystery

In October 1955 Antoinette revisited Med 6 (Fig. 9) the Medieval well (first found by Roy Carr in 1947) to see if she could find any traces of the wood lining as shown on a drawing (Fig. 10) held in the county archives ‘Papers of F.H. Worsfold’ (R/U475/22/9). The following note was with the drawing:

‘Found May 1947 a Med well, 90 yards out off Ethelbert Road. And destroyed by visitors August 4 that year. 3’4” x 3’2” diagonals, timber lined and 2’9” deep’.

When Antoinette revisited the well it was round with no evidence that it had ever been timber-lined. She contacted Roy Carr and all he could remember was that they had excavated some timber pieces and these had been kept under water for some time but were eventually thrown away. The well in 1947 had yielded sufficient sherds to reconstruct three large flagons or jugs (Fig. 11) all partially glazed 13th/14th-century ware which were also donated to the PCM by Roy Carr in 1960. Antoinette found two more sherds and only a small piece of timber that had been missed in the original excavation.

Med 14: Quality pottery, leather and wood

Another outstanding well was Med 14. This pit not only contained typical 13th-century wares but also interesting and exceptional later wares including a complete late 14th/15th-century jug (Fig. 12) with a deep collared rim and a marked concave neck with a cylindrical semi-looped handle. The body of the jug is globular with broad shallow ridging, a single groove on mid shoulder and a near flat base. The jug stands 20.1cm high.

Of great interest to Antoinette who, as previously mentioned, had done extensive work on the shoe collection at the Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford, in 1933-34, (Gibbons 2021, 88), was the remains of a leather shoe or slipper in Med 14. It was in two pieces (Fig. 13), a near complete left sole with raised edges for well-spaced thread holes and the front upper of the same shoe. The width of the sole between the heel and the toe part is incredibly narrow being only 3.5cm but it may have shrunk since drying it as there are shrinkage cracks underneath in the toe area. The total estimated length is 24cm. When reconstructed (Fig. 14) the shoe/slipper measured about 18cm long and about 6cm across at the instep. Many pieces of leather were also discovered in Med 26 and another leather sole in Med 29. Also in Med 14 was a thin, well-made wooden spoon with a snub-nosed tip (Fig. 15). A quarter of the side of the elongated shallow bowl is missing and the handle, which is thicker vertically, was broken and mended in antiquity. The depth of the bowl is 6-7mm with a width of 3cm and the spoon has an overall length of 11cm.

Med 26: Tyler Hill pottery and wood strips

An interesting flagon or jug was found in Med 26 in 1959. Macpherson-Grant reviewed this in 1970 and identified it as late 13th-century or possibly early 14th-century Tyler Hill sandy ware. The pot, which stands 28cm high is notable for its ‘parrot beak’ spout, similar to those on French Saintonge jugs. The rim has a raised inner lip and a shallow groove (Fig. 16) plain stabbed strap handle, bulging body and a splayed thumb-pressed base. Beneath the spout is a single vertical groove with 9 short horizontal, parallel strokes, over these and part of the neck and shoulder is a dark green brown glaze, which has fired to a silver colour in places.

The wood remains in Med 26 include two overlapping ash strips (Fig. 17) jointed together by two oval pegs with tops only slightly larger than the hole. The strips themselves are now only slightly curved but once were part of a barrel strap. A wood board or plank 13mm thick is in four pieces with one square edge and flat, the other edge is worn. The surface has diagonal scorings probably from using a plane. There were also signs of woodworm activity near the breaks in the plank.

Med 29: Quality wood craft

This was clearly shown by the many pieces of wood found in Med 29. There were five parts of bucket staves (Fig. 18) four of which had a groove to house the bucket base, hoop strips peg-joined at the overlap (Fig. 19) and wood fixings including carved pegs (Fig. 20) all assumed to be part of a bucket.

Med 34-38 and Med 41

These pits were found further to the west towards Reculver near the sewage outlet pipe, adjacent to the Early Iron Age pit ‘P’ beyond the ‘Butts’ (Fig. 21). In Med 34, which was out near the sewage outlet pipe area, were sufficient sherds to construct a 13th/14th-century onion-shaped vessel (Fig. 22) with a height without rim of 30cm. The large globular body has a diameter of 25cm and stands on a 17cm base. The neck top and handle are missing. The remnants of the neck have wheel rilling and round the base are rather long but not very deep thumb impressions. Fairly smooth Tyler Hill ware. Thin grey core, orange red lining, pink-grey surfaces. Brown-green glaze on upper half body and neck. Glaze covers, in part, fairly well spaced series of cream-white clay stripes.

All of the other Medieval pits towards Reculver were excavated by Antoinette in later years with the help of volunteers. Some of the Medieval wells were found and excavated by others, but all were referred to Antoinette as work progressed and all artefacts and notes were passed to the PCM. By way of example, it was Melvyn Steed who excavated Med 34 in 1966 on his own and then Med 35 with Antoinette in 1968 and 1969, when she recorded in her field books the information of the large bone found [‘vertebra bone … whale presumably. more bone, scrap leather and snail shells’]. Med 38 was excavated by John Dickerson in 1969 and Med 41 was found by Dawn Marshall in 1974.

Med 39: East bank furthest inland

One pit fully excavated by an individual as their own was Med 39 known as ‘Nigel’s hole’. NMG excavated this in 1970 under the supervision of Antoinette (Fig. 2). The pit is on the east of the ‘creek’ between Minnis Road steps and the slope to the promenade and 9 paces from it (NGR: TR2868 6968). It measured about 90cm in diameter and 44cm deep with fill of a dark brown colour – rusty and chalky. In the top fill of the well were a lead soldier, 8 short cartridges and a large one presumably left over from WW2. Finds included pieces of leather, 1 piece of flat stone and several pot sherds including one thumbed sherd.

Amongst the pot sherds were 5 body sherds of Tyler Hill fabric and part of a handle. The fabric has a buff-grey core sand-tempered rather course. An apple-green yellow all over glaze with under patchy pinkish slip. Stabbed semi ovoid handle.

Body sherds have single row dot ring motif bordered 2-3 row grooves (Fig. 23). There were also sufficient sherds to reconstruct a 13th/14th-century classic French Saintonge green glazed jug. (Fig. 24) The fabric is a dirty buff white, with small flint grits and the usual black grits with some mica content. The core is blue- grey pale. The pot stands 28cm tall. It has a semi-ovoid body, a strap handle and part of a bridge spout. There is a marked basal foot missing and it is iron stained from well chalk filling. Copper glazed all over. The rim is 7.5cm in diameter with a maximum girth diameter 14cm. The rim is beveled with a square section. The foot is diagonally knife trimmed with a potter’s mark on the base.

In contrast, in Med 39 the lower half of a 13th/14th-century Scarborough squat jug base tapering up to the neck from a low body bulge (Fig. 25). The extant height is 17cm and the base diameter is 14.5cm. The fabric is smooth pink/orange with a fine grit backing of sand with mica. There are also small specks of maroon or grog. It has a heat crackled glaze with above the maximum girth, pellets of probably iron filings under the glaze, which ran during firing upwards. The glaze also contains bubbles of copper eruptions. There are four groups of four incipient thumbed feet.

The fill of Med 39 (Fig. 26) also contained 1 large snail, a few beetle remains, some seeds, 2 small chrysalides, 1 vertebra, 1 cut bone and wood specimens including part of a tusk tenon joint (Fig. 27). NMG drew a rough isometric to describe the quality and strength of a ‘tusk tenon’ joint.

Expert analysis

During all of her excavations Antoinette sought expert analysis of her finds, mainly from the Natural History Museum (NHM). Dr Juliet Jewell analysed the animal remains, whilst Mr G.S. Cowles (Bird section British Museum) identified 3 birds from the bones – a Mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos), probably domestic, a large domestic chicken and a Goldeneye duck (Bucephala clangula). The large bone found in Med 35 was the 7th or 8th thoracic vertebra of a bottle-nosed whale (Hyperoodon ampullatus). (Mammal Section British Museum). The pit also contained the identifiable remains of 5 types of beetle. M.E. Bacchus (NHM) and Mr A. Wheeler (Zoology department NHM) could only identify a large haddock from the fish bones remains.

The final years of Antoinette Powell-Cotton’s research

In 1983 Antoinette, now aged 70, saw the possibility of the existence of further medieval pits evidenced by the concentration of wave-washed sherds in groups on the surface of the foreshore in the sewage pipe area. The nature of the position of the finds led her to believe that beneath them there was probably another pit but she was not able to continue with this exploration.

The locations of more medieval pits can be evidenced in Antoinette’s last field notebook in an entry dated 7 March 1983. The 26 field books started in 1953 in her inimitable shorthand stating every location, find and named assistance; as a complete diary and archaeological field book, the 26th booklet finishes with this entry:

… to Minnis plus pumps and dig tools. Met Dave Perkins and redhead John Franklin on prom: to inspect N and site generally – John had collected some pottery, bone and wood at dig but had not filled in, filling spread around opening. Creek chalk not very clean – mussels and winkles quite thick not much loose chalk for filling. We filled his dug hole vaguely with chalk only. Walked up to BA and wreck, by prom to west end – on foreshore to beyond sewage pipe steps.

Dave reports:

1. Med? Pit close to sea wall and east side of gate on wall between breakwaters – 1 slatted and 1 part slatted. Med sherds from surface.

2. Area of brick earth beyond with sloping brick earth (Tan) from wall has something sticking out from it. These areas nearish Melvin Steed’s onion Med pot Well, I guess. Both of these well covered now by lorry overside. No numbers now show on seawall but yellow remains.

Antoinette was always pleased to show interested parties round the Minnis Bay site. In the above entry they started at pit ‘N’ (Early Iron Age) on the east bank just north of Med 39. They then visited the Bronze Age site adjacent to the wreck of the Hero, before walking via the promenade west to the latest medieval finds at the sewage pipe (Fig. 21). It is possible that following this ‘walkabout’ Med 42 was discovered, the last medieval pit referred to in the PCM archives. The final comment referring to a lorry would have been the pouring of protective shingle etc. around sewage pipes, unfortunately covering part of the area of the Medieval pits.

She was always on the lookout for other areas to be excavated. One such area was a group of wooden posts that was only exposed at extreme low tides, giving a very limited excavation time. With the assistance of the writers of this report, in 1967 she was able to plot the position of a semicircle of sea-eroded wooden stumps (Fig. 28), which were firmly embedded in the chalk substrata on the west side of the original creek, opposite the east bank Bronze Age site. Antoinette always referred to this feature as the ‘Fish Weir’ but the opportunity to investigate further never arose.

This concludes the four-part analysis of ‘The remarkable multi-period finds at Minnis Bay, Birchington’. Starting with the Major Contribution to Intertidal Archaeology by Antoinette Powell-Cotton (Gibbons 2017), followed by the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age pits (Gibbons 2019), and then by the Middle and Late Iron Age (Gibbons 2021).

The writers’ personal involvement started in 1965, on site participating in the excavation of Late Iron Age Well 30 (Gibbons 2021, 93) with Antoinette, or as she preferred to be known ‘Tony’. This well shaft base was considered by her to be the representative example of this group of wells. She would have been delighted to see the results of the excavation as a diorama display in Gallery 4 at the PCM. The museum provides access for research visits. Also more comprehensive catalogues exist including each pit excavated, listing their location, size and artefacts with photographs and notes. These can be seen in pdf format at; pcmresearch.org/archaeology.

acknowledgements

The writers wish to endorse their previous thanks to Dr Inbal Livne (former Head of Collections) and Hazel Basford (Archivist) for providing full access to the museum’s collection and ensuring that the depth and ease of access for others to research the material was achieved. Also to the staff and volunteers at PCM for their invaluable help, good humour and advice over the past 10 years, welcoming us as part of the ‘team’.

Finally, a special thank you to KAS Editor Terry Lawson who in 2016, with Hazel Basford, during the early days of our cataloguing Antoinette Powell-Cotton’s Minnis Bay artefacts and notes, encouraged the preparation of the four articles.

appendix

The History of Gore End

Gore(s)end had certainly become a limb of Dover by 1373 (Murray) and possibly even as early as the time of Edward 1 (1272-1307). Its creek running out of one of the many indentations in the chalk cliff-line made for a sheltered anchorage. The port started to decline at the end of the medieval period due to various factors: continuing steady erosion of the chalk cliffs reducing shelter, the creek silting up and the increase in the size of ships which could no longer be accommodated. There is, however, evidence that it was still possible to anchor small boats there in the 1650s.

The creek can still be seen in a photograph taken in the late 1800s with the coastguard building, the small church, and a few other properties above the eastern bank (Fig. 29). All that remains today is seaward of the promenade outlined by a chalk ‘platform’ of the eroded cliffs to the east with traces of the creek that can be seen at low tide on the foreshore at Minnis Bay.

bibliography

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Bamford, H., 1982, ‘Beaker domestic sites in the Fen edge and East Anglia’, East Anglian Archaeology, 16.

Gibbons, V. and T., 2017, ‘The remarkable multi-period finds at Minnis Bay, Birchington: the major contribution to inter-tidal zone archaeology made by Antoinette Powell-Cotton (1913-1997)’, Archaeologia Cantiana, 138, 257-78.

Gibbons, T. and V., 2019, ‘Late Bronze Age/early Iron Age site on the banks of the Goresend Creek, Minnis Bay, Birchington’, Archaeologia Cantiana, 140, 72-88.

Gibbons, V. and T., 2021, ‘The Middle/Late Iron Age and Roman finds made by Antoinette Powell-Cotton on the foreshore and cliff top at Minnis Bay, Birchington’, Archaeologia Cantiana, 142, 81-104.

Hawkes, C.F.C., 1942, Maidstone Museum archives, ‘Worsfold Papers’ – unpubl. document.

Lambard, W., 1656, First printing of the Charters, Laws and Privileges of the Cinque Ports added to The Perambulation of Kent.

Mackreth, D.F., 2011, ‘Brooches in Late Iron Age and Roman Britain’, Oxford: Oxbow.

Macpherson-Grant, N., 1969, ‘Two Neolithic bowls from Birchington, Thanet’, Archaeo-logia Cantiana, 84, 249.

Macpherson-Grant, N., 1971, ‘The Archaeological pits of Minnis Bay, Birchington – Mediaeval’, PCM archives.

Macpherson-Grant, N., 2014, ‘Powell Cotton Museum archives’ – unpubl. doc.

Murray, K.M.E., 1935, The Constitutional History of the Cinque Ports, Manchester University Press.

Powell-Cotton, P. and G.F. Pinfold, 1940, ‘The Beck Find: Prehistoric and Roman site on the foreshore at Minnis Bay, Report and Catalogue’, Archaeologia Cantiana, 51, 191.

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Worsfold, F.H., 1943, PPS, vol. IX, p. 28.

Fig. 1 Plan of the West bank pits/wells. [Unless otherwise stated, all images are © Courtesy of the Trustees of the Powell-Cotton Museum.]

Fig. 2 Plan of the East bank pits/wells.

Fig. 3 Good quality jug from Med 1.

Fig. 4 Late 13th-century leather bag/pouch from Med 1.

(Reproduced courtesy of Maidstone Museum.)

Fig. 5 Handle with yellow-green glaze, 13th-century Scarborough ware.

Fig. 6 Handle, 13th- century

Tyler Hill ware.

Fig. 7 Plank with remnants of two iron hinges from Med 4.

Fig. 8 Complete 13th-century jug from Med 4.

Fig. 9 Med 6 ‘dipping well’, 1955.

Fig. 10 Med 6: 1947 drawing of wood-lined well. (Reproduced courtesy of KH&LC.)

C

Fig. 11 Three flagons/jugs from Med 6. These were analysed in detail by Gerald Dunning as part of NMG studies. His observations attached to the drawings were as follows:

Fig 11 A [PCM ref. Arch. Med 6.1] Jug of Tyler Hill ware. Ht 28.4cm. Grey sandy fabric with reddish surface. Streaky yellow glaze on front of neck and body down to bulge. Three deep grooves close together below rim. Slight cordon with tool marks at base of neck. Handle strap like, stabbed down back. On front above bulge decorated with circular brooch: an applied finger-printed strip 5.8cms in diameter. Line of tool marks across centre of pin. Pulled out spout and rim as on [C]. Base has large thumb-pressings. [Erratum: in Gibbons 2017, 274, jug ‘A’ was said to be from Med 39.]

Fig 11 B [PCM ref. Arch. Med 6.2] Jug partly restored, top half including handle missing. Body of white Surrey ware, creamy white sandy fabric with small white (!flint) black & red grits. Smooth surface, knife trimmed in narrow vertical facets above the flat base. Large patch of lustrous dark green glaze on front and sides of body above and partly below the bulge. Lower end of handle.

Fig 11 C [PCM ref. Arch. Med 6.3] Jug of Tyler Hill ware. Ht 26.15cms. Grey sandy fabric, with slight reddish tone under the glazed part. Glaze speckled dark green on front and sides of neck and down to bulge. Lower part of body knife trimmed in long vertical facets. Two long angular cordons below rim on neck and similar pair at junction of the neck and body. Handle roughly ovoid in section and much pin-stabbed. Pulled out spout with top missing on rim with internal bevel. Base thumb marked with mark of nail in each.

A

B

Fig. 12 Complete jug from Med 14, late 14th/15th-century

Fig. 13 Remains of leather shoe/slipper from Med 14.

Fig. 14 Leather shoe/slipper from Med 14, combined sole and upper.

Fig. 15 Wooden spoon from Med 14.

Fig. 16 Tyler Hill ware jug with ‘parrot beak’ spout from Med 26.

Fig. 17 A: Two overlapping ash strips, part of barrel strap, from Med 26.

B: Detail of lower strap

A

B

Fig. 18 Bucket staves with ‘base’ groove from Med 29.

Fig. 19 Hoop strips peg-joined from Med 29.

Fig. 20 Wood fixings, including carved pegs, from Med 29.

Fig. 21 Plan of Minnis Bay towards Reculver.

Fig. 22 Onion-shaped vessel from Med 34.

Fig. 23 Med 39: Tyler Hill dot ring motif pot.

Fig. 24 French Saintonge jug, Med 39.

Fig. 25 Scarborough squat jug base, Med 39.

Fig. 27 Tusk tenon and illustrative drawing (Med 39).

Fig. 26 Med 39, ‘Nigel’s hole’, as excavated in 1970.

Fig. 28 Minnis Bay west side, semicircle of wood stakes, 1967.

Fig. 29 Late nineteenth-century photograph of Coast Guards terrace, viewed from west, across Gore End creek. (Reproduced courtesy of Birchington Heritage Trust.)