First Press Article - Dover Express

Leading archaeologists were called to one of Dover's busiest tourist attractions after an exciting discovery was made beneath its floor.

Volunteers at Crabble Corn Mill in Lower Road had been digging in the building to install equipment allowing the site to run off power from water in the River Dour.

But as they went deeper into the wheel pit they found something unexpected underneath - an ancient wooden floor.

Neil Anthony, founder of the Crabble Corn Mill Trust, said "it's very, very exciting. Whatever it is, it predates our mill by centuries."

Records show there has been a mill in River since at least 1227. It is believed a much older Roman construction once stood on the site and archaeologists have been trying for years to find evidence of it. The mill as it stands today was erected in 1812.

Work in the pit stopped immediately whilst Keith Parfitt of the Kent Archaeological Trust was called in to survey the find. Mr Parfitt, responsible for finding Dover's famous Bronze Age Boat beneath Townwall Street, told trustees he thought the discovery was important.
The site is now being prepared for a full excavation.

Mr Anthony said "we have an aweful lot of work to do."
We have about 80-100ft of riverbed to dam-off and dig to half a metre or a metre deep. Then we call in the archaeology team."

Last year the site featured a dig in its grounds which found a clay floor believed to be a medieval building. It is hoped that area may be opened up again in March, with its contents compared to the new findings.

Dover Express
26 October 2006