Monument record MDO3875 - Romano-British Settlement, Morel Leas, Common Mead Lane, Gillingham

Roman occupation debris had been noted from Common Mead Lane, Gillingham in 1869 and 1951, but the development of the site for housing in 1975 necessitated rapid excavation and fieldwork by the Shaftesbury and District Archaeological Group (SDAG). An area of some 6 hectares was examined, from which unstratified artefacts verified a Durotrigian phase of the first century BC/AD with thereafter apparent continuity from around AD75 to the fourth century. Evidence for stone buildings spread over the entire 6 ha site was recovered as well as a large variety of domestic pottery and other material, and burials. The site has subsequently been built over for the Maple Way housing estate.

A Roman occupation layer was found in 1869 during drainage operations in a field called Morel Leas about 1.2 mile west of Gillingham Church. There were no actual walls or foundations, apart from a few pieces of pitching, and only one fragment of Roman brick, but many stones, some fire-burnt, were discovered on the site. Finds included Romano-British coarse pottery and numerous pieces of Samian, one with the potters stamp 'ADVOCASIO'. Of three small coins, only one of Constantine was legible. <1> <2>

No pottery was found at OS siting during digging of a trench in 1951, but in a field south of this point, ST 79952620, three shallow depressions were observed about 12 ft - 15 ft wide and 2 ft deep, containing Iron Age and Romano-British pottery. This is now in the Senior Modern School, Gillingham. <4>

The area is now under pasture, and no traces of antiquity could be found. The farmer had not heard of the name "Morel Leas" and knew of no finds of archaeoloical significance being made here. The pottery was seen at Gillingham School, and consisted of a dozen Iron Age/Romano British sherds, as described by Farrar. <5>

ST 79952620 Roman occupation debris found 1869 and 1951. Iron Age and Roman pottery, 2nd century Samian. <7>

(ST 801263) Further excavation and observation on the Iron Age/Romano British site at Common Mead Lane was conducted by Shaftesbury & Distric Arch. Group. In 1976. The remains of several buildings constructed of pitched stones were found together with a stone-lined feature interpreted as a pond. Evidence of lead smelting, quern stones, animal bones, Kimmeridge shale and brooches were amongst the material recovered. Pottery consisted of New Forest black burnished and grey wares; the Samian ware (teste B.R. Hartley) included several late 1st century sherds, but the majority was 2nd century. The coins so far identified ranged between the 2nd and 4th centuries. A Romano British inhumation together with a possible knife was found at ST 80062620 during excavations. Nails surrounding the burial may indicate a coffin. <9>

ST 7995 2640. Excavations centred on this area of the site only located archaeological material at ST 7982 2635. This was a circular layer of Oolitic limestone 2m in diameter. No evidence of its function or chronology was recovered. The negatives results suggest that the northern limit of the settlement corresponds with the northern field boundary of field no. 1086 and that the settlement was undefended. <11>

Dickinson, B, and Hartley, B R, 1976, Interim Report No 2 (1976) Common Mead Lane Housing Estate, Gillingham Romano-British Settlement (Unpublished document). SDO21175.

Shaftesbury and District Archaeological Group, 1976, The Romano-British settlement near Common Mead Lane, Gillingham, Dorset (ST800263) (Unpublished document). SDO21176.

Shaftesbury and District Archaeological Group, 1980, Further report. L3. Common Mead Lane, Gillingham, Dorset. R.B. Settlement, Gd ref; ST 7985W, 8015E, 2635N, 2620S (1977) (Serial). SDO21404.

‘The following list of objects were located by metal detector users, on the above site during 1976, mostly on spoil heaps. These spoil heaps were the result of bulldozing top soil off the fields to develop a housing estate. This top soil which undoubtedly would contain a large quantity of R.B. material. i.e. 1st to 4th Century A.D. which has now been distributed, not only over gardens and farms in other parts of Gillingham. We also understand that the top soil was for general sale, this could mean a greater distribution area.
Coins: Hadrian 117-138 Denarius, Antoninus Pius 138-161 Sestertius copy, Lucilla 182 Sestertius, Geta 198-209, Claudius II Gothicus 270, Gallienus 253, Maximinus 286 Follis, Carausius 287 anton, Lucinius 308-324 follis, Constantine I 307 Aes, Ditto, Ditto ½ follis, Helena, Crispus 317, Commemorative 330, Ditto, Constantius II, Ditto, Constantine 317, Magnentius 350, John 1199-1216 ½ a silver penny, Circa 2nd Cent Bronze plain bow Fibula Brooch, Ditto enamelled cross bow, Late Medieval Bronze Ring, 18th Cent Brass Button, 17th Cent lead Boss & Belt Brooch.’

<1> Shipp, W (ed), 1868, The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. 3rd edition. Volume 3, 462 (Monograph). SWX3207.

<2> 1869, Notes and queries for Somerset and Dorset, 497 (Article in serial). SDO18375.

<3> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey 1 to 25 inch scale map, 1902 (Map). SDO18020.

<4> Farrar, R A H, 1951, Romano-British pottery south-west of the reservoir near Common Mead Lane, Gillingham; Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society (Article in serial). SDO11485.

<5> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 03-FEB-56 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<5.1> Martin, G, Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments: G Martin, Chantry Farm, Gillingham (Verbal communication). SDO18376.

<6> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1962 (Map). SWX1540.

(ST 801263) Iron Age & Romano British pottery found
(NAT)

<7> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1972, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume IV (North), 112 (Monograph). SDO99.

<8> Shaftesbury and District Archaeological Group, 1976, Shaftesbury and District Archaeological Group; Interim Report 1976 (Serial). SDO11482.

<9> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1978, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1976, 56 (Serial). SDO76.

<10> Shaftesbury and District Archaeological Group, 1983, Excavations at Common Mead Lane, Gillingham; Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 146 (Article in serial). SDO11476.

‘Excavations at Common Mead Lane, Gillingham. Geophysical survey and trial excavation has been undertaken by the Shaftesbury and District Archaeological Group on the site of the Romano-British settlement near Common Mead Lane, Gillingham (around ST 800263). Previous work on the site by the group since 1976 has revealed a settlement covering an area of at least 4 hectares, dating from the 1st to 4th century AD.
Proposed housing development to the north of the present residential estate will threaten areas where further archaeological deposits are suspected to exist. A programme of test-pit excavation commenced in the autumn of 1983 and will continue unto 1984. Preliminary results rom the area around ST 80022638 have revealed small quantities of Romano-British pottery thought to derive from settlement areas to the west. No features have been discovered.’

<11> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1983, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1983, 146 (Serial). SDO83.

<12> Cox, M, 1984, 'Excavation at Common Mead Lane, Gillingham, July 1984' Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society (Article in serial). SDO11479.

<13> Moore W F and Ross M S, 1989, The Romano-British Settlement, Common Mead Lane, Gillingham, Dorset; Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society (Article in serial). SDO11481.

<14> National Record of the Historic Environment, 206359 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Apr 23 2025 2:26PM