Monument record MDO18979 - Cornhill, Dorchester; Roman surface

SY602907. Roman remains, walls, floors etc were observed during 1963-5 in three trenches dug in the north end of South Street and behind premises on the West side. CJ Green suggests that a gravelled area spreading 125 feet E-W may represent the site of the Forum. <1-2>

<1> Farrar, R A H, 1965, Recent Roman Discoveries in Dorchester. Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society (Article in serial). SDO9900.

<2> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 564-6, no. 196 (Monograph). SDO150.

‘(196) Building Remains, walls, floors, etc., observed during 1963–5 in trenches dug in the N. end of South Street (Cornhill) and behind premises on the W. side. Three trenches in gardens S.W. of Lloyds Bank, 2 High West Street (69229069, 69239070, 69239069), exposed a flintgravelled floor or floors some 2½ ft. below surface, laid on chalk rubble overlying a brown loam, probably of natural origin, on the surface of the Chalk. This gravel may have been continuous with similar flooring noted 30 yds. to the N.E. in Cornhill S. of the Town Pump (69269070). Gravel was also found under the pavement outside the Midland Bank (69259069) … The observer suggests a gravelled area spreading some 125 ft. E.-W., representing the site of the Forum. (Information from Mr. C. J. Green.)’

<3> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1410293 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2024 7:34PM