Monument record MDO18621 - Applegates, 34 Trinity Street, Dorchester; Early Roman timber structure

The remains of a rectangular post-built structure were found on the Roman street frontage during excavations on the site of Applegates, 34 Trinity Street , Dorchester in 1971. This timber structure comprised eight large postholes with flint and limestone packing. It lay immediately east of a large timber cill-beam building and may have been associated with it, perhaps representing a porch, verandah or covered walkway adjacent to the street. It was constructed after c. AD85 and was demolished before the mid 2nd century AD.

The remains of a rectangular post-built structure were found on the Roman street frontage during excavations on the site of Applegates, 34 Trinity Street , Dorchester in 1971 (1) (2). This timber structure comprised eight large postholes with flint and limestone packing, forming a rectangular structure about 3 m by 7m across. No contemporary floor surfaces were found.

This structure was stratigraphically later than the earlier timber buildings on the street frontage. It lay immediately east of the large timber cill-beam building found on the site and it is possible that it is associated with it, perhaps representing a porch, verandah or covered walkway adjacent to the street, though it does not continue the full length of the cill-beam building. There is no surviving evidence to indicate the function of this structure. It was constructed after c. AD80-85 and was demolished before the mid 2nd century AD.

<1> O'Connor, B J, and Startin, W A, 1972, 'Excavations for the Dorchester Excavation Committee, Interim Report, 1971: 34 Trinity Street' Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 151-152 (Article in serial). SDO9889.

<2> Wilson, D R, 1972, 'Roman Britain in 1971: Southern Counties' Britannia, 345 (Article in serial). SDO9891.

<3> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1430534 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2024 7:30PM