Monument record MDO18558 - Alington Avenue Roman drier 1856

Evidence for a Roman drier was discovered during excavations at Alington Avenue. Drier [1856] lay in the eastern extension to the excavation area, close to the modern road and drier [1286], just east of the small enclosure [4179]. It was a well-constructed stone-built drier in a 0.7m deep pit with slightly sloping sides. The main body of the drier, the main flue and ancillary chambers, lay within an approximately square pit, some 3.6m x 3.8m; the stoke hole, on the west side, lay in a smaller extension of similar depth. The walls lining the pit and forming the drying chamber survived to a maximum of seven courses and were made of limestone blocks and flints. One area of the north wall had herringbone coursing. The central main flue was 2.6m long and 0.6m wide, it led to two axial vents or flues which were originally slightly over 2.6m long, although the ends nearest the stoke hole had been shortened by the addition of two bits of walling. Shallow deposits of ash and charcoal were present on the base of the stoke hole and flue, but none of the walling showed significant signs of burning. Evidence of wear at the stoke hole however does suggest long term use of the structure. The pottery in the back fill can only be dated to post-AD 270. The drier is of a type called a ‘reversed tuning fork’ and a parallel for Orton Hall Farm, Cambridgeshire, has been dated to the late 3rd century. It is not clear whether shallow pit [1836], adjacent to this drier, is related to it.

Found during a series of archaeological evaluations and excavations conducted by Wessex Archaeology at Alington Avenue, Fordington, Dorchester, between 1984-1987. The results of the excavations have been published as a Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society Monograph (DNHAS Monograph 15). The numbers in square brackets below refer to the context and feature numbers used in the published reports (1).

Seven ovens and driers were found, one [070] during the 1984 evaluation, three within the D-shaped enclosure or its extensions, and four outside its boundaries, including one described within building [1737]. Most of these structures (except [4250] which was cut by a late Roman grave) have been dated to the late Roman period, although the dating evidence has largely come from layers relating to backfill and disuse.

Drier [1856] lay in the eastern extension to the excavation area, close to the modern road and drier [1286], just east of the small enclosure [4179]. It was a well-constructed stone-built drier in a 0.7m deep pit with slightly sloping sides. The main body of the drier, the main flue and ancillary chambers, lay within an approximately square pit, some 3.6m x 3.8m; the stoke hole, on the west side, lay in a smaller extension of similar depth. The walls lining the pit and forming the drying chamber survived to a maximum of seven courses and were made of limestone blocks and flints. One area of the north wall had herringbone coursing. The central main flue was 2.6m long and 0.6m wide, it led to two axial vents or flues which were originally slightly over 2.6m long, although the ends nearest the stoke hole had been shortened by the addition of two bits of walling. Shallow deposits of ash and charcoal were present on the base of the stoke hole and flue, but none of the walling showed significant signs of burning. Evidence of wear at the stoke hole however does suggest long term use of the structure. The pottery in the back fill can only be dated to post-AD 270. The drier is of a type called a ‘reversed tuning fork’ and a parallel for Orton Hall Farm, Cambridgeshire, has been dated to the late 3rd century. It is not clear whether shallow pit [1836], adjacent to this drier, is related to it.

<1> Davies, S M, Bellamy, P S , Heaton, M J , and Woodward, P J, 2002, Excavations at Alington Avenue, Fordington, Dorchester, Dorset, 1984-87 (Monograph). SDO9565.

Record last edited

Dec 12 2018 5:45PM