Archaeological knowledge of Canterbury's remote past obtained by excavation is of comparatively recent acquisition, being in large measure the result of work carried out since the second world war. In 1868 the streets were trenched for the installation of drains, and the city engineer of the time, James Pilbrow, F.S.A., wrote a brief account of his discoveries for Archaeologia, xliii (1871), illustrated with a plan of the city and one or two diagrams. Unfortunately the opportunity was not taken to note the Roman street plan. Nevertheless important details of the building here to be discussed were recorded under the south end of St. Margaret's Street and the west end of Watling Street.