Monument record MDO44176 - Roman buildings in a field called Oak Hill near Minchington, Sixpenny Handley

Remains of Roman buildings were discovered in 1868 in a field called Oak Hill, which was described as lying between Minchington and a 'British Village' adjoining the road from Tollard Royal to Minchington. Discoveries included foundations of green sandstone and many stone roofing tiles, as well as coloured wall plaster and tesserae, and Roman coins. This spot has been suggested as a possible site for this building.

Remains of Roman buildings were discovered in 1868, six or eight inches below ground level, in a field called Oak Hill; probably in the vicinity of Farnham (ST 9615), as they lay between Minchington and a 'British Village' adjoining the road from Tollard Royal to Minchington. This would be the Iron Age/Romano-British enclosure, ST 91 NE 26, and the name of the road - 'Oakley Lane' - may be of significance. The foundations of the buildings were of hewn green sandstone and many stone roofing tiles of oblong diamond shape were discovered. The walls were plastered with coloured borders of red and green and a few red and white tesserae were found, also some Roman coins, among the earth that was removed. <1>

Roman building and occupation debris, found in 1868 'in a field called Oak Hill' near Minchington, included sandstone wall footings, wall plaster painted with red and green borders, some small red and white tesserae, large stone roofing slabs, and coins. <2>

<1> Shipp, W (ed), 1868, The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. 3rd edition. Volume 3, 547 (Monograph). SWX3207.

<2> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1975, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume V (East), 69 (Monograph). SDO129.

<3> National Record of the Historic Environment, 209791 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 31 2022 5:16PM