History of this street corner to be revealed

Asmall, empty corner plot between Knott’s Lane and King Street, Canterbury, is about to be redeveloped for housing.

A recent archaeological investigation has helped to put together the rich and fascinating diversity of activities on this unassuming street corner.

The earliest occupation level would be Roman, but details will have to wait for the report, which is being compiled. I have a friend, who lived in King Street, who was able to retrieve small pieces of Roman tile and brick from the discarded spoil heap.

For the vast majority of the medieval period, this site was occupied by the archbishop’s stables, as was Cobden Place immediately behind.

This was a convenient place, seeing as his Canterbury residence, or palace, was only over the road in Palace Street.

Following a period in use as a market garden, the area was redeveloped for working class housing from the late 17th to the early 19th century.

Humble tenements in Knott’s Lane, Cobden Place and Staplegate Place occupied the area until the late 1930s.

A massive slum clearance scheme, in 1938, swept most of these houses away. However, those fronting King Street were given a stay of execution; probably due to the imminent outbreak of war. The above picture dates from 1938 and shows the intact houses at Nos. 24 to 27. Note the woman sewing on her front doorstep at No. 24. The truncated remains of No. 23 are also clearly visible, near the junction with Knott’s Lane. The surviving houses and a small former pub at No. 27, the Little Rose, perished in 1946.

Early post-war development saw a block of public conveniences put on the corner site and rows of lock-up garages on the foundations of the old houses behind.