Archaeologia Cantiana Vol. 88 1973 page 141

Stone The rubble foundations uncovered by excavation consisted of the same material visible in the standing medieval walls, namely, ragstone and other varieties of stone derived from the local Lower Greensand. Much of it is very cherty and varies in colour from grey to dark ferruginous brown. Chalk Abundant evidence exists that internal work in the church and monastic buildings was mainly of chalk. Jambs of doorways and other openings in the church, refectory, parlour and warming-house were found to be of this material, as were the nave arcades, the vaulting ribs of the chapter house and a hood-mould in the north transept. Samples of all these have been examined by Dr. R. P. S. Jefferies, F.G.S., and identified as coming from the Labiatus Zone in the lower part of the Middle Chalk. Great quantities of chalk occurred in the destruction debris all over the site. Chalk was extensively used for internal work in medieval buildings, especially in areas where it was readily obtainable from a local source.		Roman Tiles In the foundations of the north transept and the presbytery many fragments of Roman roofing-tiles were incorporated. There were also clearly recognizable large pieces of box-tiles and fragments of opus signinum. This discovery substantiates the note on Bensted's sketch-plan where he wrote 'Roman debris found all over this area' on the crossing, and implies the presence of a Roman building near the site of the Abbey. Mortar A striking feature was the pronounced orange-brown colour of the mortar in the rubble footings, due to admixture of coarse sand with a high ferruginous content. In some post-primary constructions, such as the walls of the night stair, the mortar was a more normal grey. Brown mortar can be seen in the exposed core of the north wall of the refectory. Bricks Examples set on edge in the hearth of the warming house were approximately 9 in. long and 2¼ in. thick, and were eroded and blackened by burning on the exposed side. They must represent a late pre Dissolution repair, and in all probability the earlier hearth within
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