Monument record MDO18947 - Dorset County Hospital Site E; Roman building

SY69009044. Three successive masonry buildings, their associated floor levels, and a single drainage gully, which may all be attributed to the beginning of the 4th century, were revealed in a limited excavation between two ranges of almshouses in West Walk in 1970. The Roman buildings were extensively robbed in the 13th-14th centuries and a timber building erected on the site for a brief period.

A second section was cut at SY69009041 through the gardens of the almshouses at 12-15 West Walk on the site of the rampart. At the rear of the rampart 4 occupation phases were recognised. Flint and mortar walls had been disturbed by Mediaeval and later pits. A building, possibly of timber construction, had a cobbled floor. There was no sign of domestic occupation. Coin and pottery evidence suggest occupation in the 3rd and 4th centuries. (2)

<1> Viner, D, 1970, Excavations for the Dorchester Excavation Committee, Interim Report, 1970: Dorchester Hospital, Site E., 136-7 (Article in serial). SDO9700.

<2> Bradley, R, 1970, 'Excavations for the Dorchester Excavation Committee, Interim Report, 1970; Dorchester Hospital, Site F' Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society (Article in serial). SDO9699.

<3> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1430543 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2024 7:34PM