Monument record MDO18795 - Merchant's Garage, High West Street, Dorchester; Early Roman timber building 209/212

A large rectangular beam-slot timber building dating to the 1st century AD were found during observations on the site of the former Merchant’s Garage, High East Street, Dorchester in 1983. The full extent and plan of the building was not exposed. The walls were defined by narrow slots and it was provided with a chalk floor, which was renewed at least once. A number of postholes and a small possible bronze-working hearth were found inside the structure. It was probably an industrial building, rather than a domestic structure.

The remains of an early Roman timber beam slot building were found during observations and recording at the site of the former Merchant’s Garage, High East Street, Dorchester in 1983 (1) (2). The full plan of this building was not exposed, but it was probably rectangular in shape, measuring over 13m by 12m across. The northern side was defined by two slots butted against each other, presumably to carry a timber ground beam. The eastern side was defined by a similar slot, which could not be traced southwards for the whole length of the building. The western side may have been defined by several short lengths of slot, but these were on a slightly different alignment to the other slots. Alternatively they may represent an internal division as they cut through a fragment of chalk floor. The floor of the building appears to have been of rammed chalk and at least two phases of flooring have been identified, separated by a layer of charcoal. This floor survived best in the southeastern part of the building. A number of internal features associated with this building were identified, including several postholes built into the floor and a small hearth containing a large number of laminated bands of charcoal and copper alloy fragments, perhaps associated with metalworking. This hearth went out of use during the life of the building and was floored over. A rectangular pit cut into the floor may have been in use within the building.

This building is not securely dated, but appears to have been in use during the later 1st century AD. Its date of construction has not been determined. The lack of domestic refuse, plus the possible bronze-working hearth suggest this building had a non-domestic function.

National Monuments Record, NMR Monument Record, SY 69 SE 385 (Index). SDO9937.

<1> Bellamy, P S, 1991, Observations at Merchant’s Garage, High West Street, Dorchester, 1983. Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society (Article in serial). SDO9677.

<2> Bellamy, P S, 1983, Merchant's Garage, High West Street, Dorchester (Excavation archive). SDO10188.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2024 7:31PM