Monument record MDO19233 - Childrens Ward, Dorset County Hospital, Dorchester; Roman pits

Two pits, a gravelled area and building debris were observed during the construction of the new Children's Ward of the Dorset County Hospital on the west side of Somerleigh Road. The pits were seen either side of an E-W Roman street. One pit to the north of the street had 4th century pottery and tesserae in its fill; the other to the south contained clinker

During the construction of the new Children's Ward of the Dorset County Hospital on the west side of Somerleigh Road, a number of Roman features and deposits were observed by Christopher Sparey Green.

An east-west Roman street was discovered, sectioned by foundations and drains for the Children's Ward, which was traced for about 18m from WSW-ENE. The road was about 3m wide and consisted of a cambered layer of cobbles surfaced with small flints on foundation layers of 'brown clay' and rammed chalk (1).

A ditch about 1.2m wide and 0.5m deep, was found on the northern side of the road. Two pits, a gravelled area and building debris were also observed on the south side of the E-W street. One pit to the north of the street had 4th century pottery and tesserae in its fill; the other to the south contained clinker (2).

<1> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 552, no. 177 (Monograph). SDO150.

<2> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 562, no. 190 (Monograph). SDO150.

<3> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1430934 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2024 7:38PM