Monument record MDO19052 - New Compasses Inn, The Grove, Dorchester; Roman burials

Two Roman burials were found in 1903 when building the New Compasses Inn. They were extended inhumations on differing alignments and were accompanied by Romano-British coarseware vessels. one was a bowl of Durotrigian class 2 dating to the first century AD or early second centrury, the other was a small jar. <1-2>

The landlord of the New Compasses Inn in 1954 confirmed that the inn was built in 1903, but had no knowledge of the 1903 burials. <3>

Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1906, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Field Club for 1906, xxviii (Serial). SDO13029.

[Exhibits: By Mr Charles Prideaux] A Roman pot found at the bottom of the Grove

Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1927, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Field Club for 1926-1927, xxviii (Serial). SDO13162.

[Exhibits: By Mr Charles Prideaux] A Roman pot found at the bottom of the Grove

<1> Farrar, R A H, 1963, Recent Discoveries and Accessions; Inhumation Burials in Dorchester (ii)., 100 (Article in serial). SDO9711.

Two extended skeletons, also variously oriented, were found nearby in 1903 in building the new Compasses Inn (68869106), accompanied by coarse ware vessels, one (DCM 1907.3.8) a bead rim pedestalled jar of Brailsford's Durotrigian type 2, the other (not traced), evidently a small jar or pipkin.

<2> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 585, no. 226b (Monograph). SDO150.

<3> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F1 JR 21-Aug-1954 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1430783 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2024 7:35PM