Monument record MDO18364 - Acland Road Sewer; Roman defences

During the construction of a new sewer along Acland Road, Dorchester in 1990, the northern edge of the inner ditch of the Roman town defences may have been picked up. A large sump was dug at the corner of Acland Road and South Walks, which revealed the natural chalk dipping steeply down to the south. This may represent the northern slope of the inner ditch. It appears to have been disturbed in this area and was filled with dark brown loam. Another small V-shaped ditch, running roughly E-W, was found cut into the sloping chalk face. This ditch was about 2m wide and 0.8m deep and was filled with light greyish-brown silty clay. No dating evidence was recovered from it. This ditch may have been a marking out ditch for the defences.

During the construction of a new sewer along Acland Road, Dorchester in 1990, the northern edge of the inner ditch of the Roman town defences may have been picked up. A large sump was dug at the corner of Acland Road and South Walks, which revealed the natural chalk dipping steeply down to the south. This may represent the northern slope of the inner ditch. It appears to have been disturbed in this area and was filled with dark brown loam.

Another small v-shaped ditch, running roughly E-W, was found cut into the sloping chalk face. This ditch was about 2m wide and 0.8m deep and was filled with light greyish-brown silty clay. No dating evidence was recovered from it. This ditch may have been a marking out ditch for the defences.

Adam, N J, 1990, Acland Road Sewer Main Watching Brief, October 1990 (Unpublished document). SDO9851.

Wessex Archaeology, 1990, Acland Road Sewer Main, Dorchester (Excavation archive). SDO10028.

Record last edited

Jan 24 2025 11:19AM