Yonsea Farm, ARC YFM 97
Museum of London Archaeology, 2004. (updated 2017) https://doi.org/10.5284/1044788. How to cite using this DOI
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This work is licensed under the ADS Terms of Use and Access.
Primary contact
Stuart
Foreman
Senior Project Manager
Oxford Archaeology (South)
Janus House
Osney Mead
Oxford
OX2 0ES
UK
Tel: 01865 263800
Fax: 01865 793496
Resource identifiers
- ADS Collection: 2122
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1044788
- How to cite using this DOI
Introduction
As part of a programme of archaeological investigations along the route of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, Union Railways Limited (URL) commissioned the Museum of London Archaeology Service (MoLAS) to undertake an evaluation of six trial trenches situated at Yonsea Farm (ARC YFM97). The farm is 3.5km to the north-west of the centre of Ashford, Kent and is bounded by the A20 immediately to the north and farmland to the west, south and east.
Yonsea Farm consists of a large house, byres and cowsheds, an oast house, a tollhouse and associated gardens. The farm was probably constructed as a single phase in the 1830s. Immediately to the south of this complex a walled garden is bounded to the east and south by a pond which apparently occupies part of an earlier ditch or possible ‘moat’. A fairly substantial depression headed westwards along the south side of the garden and appeared to have been a continuation of this feature. The existence of an earlier moated site, predating the 19th century farm, was therefore thought possible.
The location of archaeology associated with a possible earlier medieval moated site was the principal evaluation aim. Five trenches were excavated (within the walled garden and a paddock or former orchard to the west of the garden) in order to locate any archaeological features associated with earlier building and to verity the presence or absence of the other two ‘arms’ of the possible ‘moat’. An additional trench was located in the wheatfield to the south in order to provide a profile of the southern return of the possible ‘moat’. The area occupied by the 19th century buildings was not available for archaeological investigation.
No archaeological features were found within the walled garden. The southern return of the possible ‘moat’ was shown to be a substantial feature; at one time containing standing water. Much of the upper fills, however consisted of 19th and 20th century backfill deposits. A trench located in the orchard was sited to locate the western side of the possible ‘moat’, but only a shallow drainage ditch containing 19th century material was found.
A Building Survey was also undertaken at Yonsea Farm (YFMBUI) prior to the dismantling and relocation of the farm buildings as part of CTRL phase 1.
N.B. Much of this work here has been superseeded by works associated with the Phase Two and Schemewide programmes, but are included here for completeness. Those wishing to use the most current data are urged to view the Channel Tunnel Rail Link Section 1 Project pages.
