Abbey Farm, Lower Street, Leeds, Maidstone, Kent, ME17 1TL. Archaeological evaluation report

Archaeological evaluation comprising 4no. 15m x 2m trial trenches located within footprint of proposed development. Trenches were machine excavated under archaeological supervision followed by hand cleaning, sample excavation and recording in accordance with an approved written scheme of investigation. Underlying geology comprising Hythe Formation - Sandstone and Limestone, interbedded, was encountered in all four trenches, overlain by a subsoil deposit. Above the subsoil, archaeological deposits and features were recorded in three of the four trenches. These comprised a large cut feature of unknown date and extent, sealed by a rubble deposit in Trench 1 containing Medieval and Post-Medieval stone and ceramic building materials likely originating from the abbey and its later post-dissolution use, a roughly metalled surface and possible linear cut feature of Post-Medieval date in Trench 3, and two post-holes and a pit of Post-Medieval date in Trench 4. The evaluation trenching demonstrated Post-Medieval features and deposits survive at a shallow depth of between 0.16m and 0.35m below ground level.