Monument record MDO18601 - Colliton Park, Dorchester; Roman Conduit

Part of a large Roman conduit, aligned roughly NNW-SSE, was exposed in a number of cuttings during excavations in Colliton Park in 1937-1938. The conduit comprised a deep trench cut into the chalk with a square-cut channel at its base, lined with ceramic roof tile set in a thin layer of clay at its base and mortared limestone sides. It was originally roofed, but this had been robbed out during the Roman period. This large conduit may have been a spillway from the Roman aqueduct. It was constructed after about AD90 and was probably robbed out in the late 3rd or 4th century and the robbing trench was not fully backfilled before the 4th century AD.

Part of a large Roman conduit, aligned roughly N-S, was exposed in a number of cuttings during excavations in Colliton Park in 1937-1938. Due to the outbreak of World War II, the excavations were never completed or written up. The following account is based on the interim reports (1) (2) and the Royal Commission Inventory entry (3).

A large conduit running NNW-SSE was sectioned in a number of places during the Colliton Park excavations. It was traced for about 82m in the southern part of the site, but appeared to be cut away to the north. The conduit comprised a V-shaped trench cut into the chalk with a square-cut channel at its base, paved with ceramic roof tile set in a thin layer of clay, with mortared limestone sides. A ledge cut into the chalk suggests it was also originally roofed, but this had been robbed during the Roman period. The channel was 0.75m wide and 0.45m high. A slightly worn silver coin of Vespasian (AD69-79) was found in the clay lining of the base, giving a terminus post quem for the construction of the conduit.

A large robbing cut was dug along the line of the conduit to rob out the stone. This robbing cut had weathered and then been backfilled with material, containing some 3rd-4th century AD pottery and a large quantity of 2nd century AD material. The Roman street crossed the conduit and had been remade over the top of the robbing backfill.

This large conduit may have been a spillway from the Roman aqueduct. It was constructed after about AD90 and was probably robbed out in the late 3rd or 4th century and the robbing trench was not fully backfilled before the 4th century AD.

National Monuments Record, NMR Monument Record, SY 69 SE 330 (Index). SDO9937.

Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1937-1938, Colliton Park, Dorchester (Excavation archive). SDO10066.

Smith, R J C, 1993, Excavations at County Hall, Colliton Park, Dorchester, Dorset, 1988 in the North-West Quarter of Durnovaria (Monograph). SDO9660.

<1> Drew, C D, and Collingwood Selby, K C, 1937, First Interim report on the Excavations at Colliton Park, Dorchester, 1937-1938. Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society 59, 1-14 (Article in serial). SDO9764.

<2> Drew, C D, and Collingwood Selby, K C, 1938, 'The Excavations at Colliton Park, Dorchester: Second Interim report; Excavations carried out in the season of 1938' Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 64 (Article in serial). SDO9765.

<3> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 2, p588 no. 227b (Monograph). SDO149.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2024 7:30PM