Monument record MDO19384 - Castle Row, Friary Hill, Dorchester; Roman building

The remains of a tessellated floor was found in 1856 during the construction of the northern block of prison warder's houses at Castle Row, on the west side of North Square and Friary Hill. It was apparently of inferior quality to the other mosaics found near by, but no description of it remains. No record of any building materials were made. The tessellated floor was probably part of the same late Roman stone building as revealed during excavations at Dorchester Prison in 1970, just to the south.

The remains of a tessellated floor was found in 1856 during the construction of the northern block of prison warder's houses at Castle Row, on the west side of North Square and Friary Hill. It was apparently of inferior quality to the other mosaics found near by, but no description of it remains (1) (2). No record of any building materials were made.

This tessellated floor was probably part of the same late Roman stone building, revealed during excavations at Dorchester Prison in 1970, just to the south (3).

<1> Anon, 1858, 'The Roman Tessellated Pavement' Dorset County Chronicle, 144 (Article in serial). SDO10190.

<2> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, p569, Dorchester 209c (Monograph). SDO150.

<3> Draper, J, and Chaplin, C, 1982, Dorchester Excavations Volume 1: Excavations at Wadham House 1968; Dorchester Prison 1970, 1975 and 1978; and Glyde Path Road 1966, 27-60 (Monograph). SDO9690.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2024 7:39PM