Monument record MDO7471 - Romano-British Occupation on Castle Hill, Corfe Castle

A few sherds of Romano-British pottery have been recovered at various times from a number of places within Corfe Castle. These include the southern scarp of the West Bailey, excavations against the southern curtain wall of the west bailey and a 12th century drainage pit in the SW angle of the 'old hall'. The finds probably indicate low scale occupation.

A few sherds of Romano-British pottery have been recovered at various times from a number of places within Corfe Castle. These include the southern scarp of the West Bailey, excavations against the southern curtain wall of the west bailey and a 12th century drainage pit in the SW angle of the 'old hall'. The finds probably indicate low scale occupation. <1>

SY 959823. Occupation debris has been found on the north and west parts of the hill occupied by Corfe Castle.

Sherds of 2nd century samian and coarse ware and small fragments seemingly of Roman flue-tile, came from excavations in the West Bailey (SY 95838228); a few sherds of coarse ware are recorded from the surface of the scarp south of the latter and at the outer base of the north east wall of the inner ward. (SY 95948233). <3>

<1> Drury, G D, 1943, The Excavations of Orictolagus Cuniculus at Corfe Castle in 1943, 68-75 (Article in serial). SDO11359.

<2> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1964, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1963, 104 (Serial). SDO63.

<3> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 599 (Monograph). SDO150.

‘(231) Castle Hill (sy 98 se). Occupation Debris has been found on the N. and W. parts of the hill occupied by the castle. Sherds of 2nd-century samian and coarse ware, and small fragments seemingly of Roman flue-tile, come from excavations in the West Bailey (95838228); a few sherds of coarse ware are recorded from the surface of the scarp S. of the latter and at the outer base of the N.E. wall of the Inner Ward (95948233). (Med. Arch. IV (1960), 38; Dorset Procs. LXXXV (1963), 104.)’

<4> Papworth, M D J, Trust for Wessex Archaeology, 1983, Isle of Purbeck Survey, IOP 62 (Index). SDO147.

The site is now occupied by Corfe Castle and it is likely that this building destroyed most of the Roman site. Brit. Gas Corp. AP//1979//9706-17. OS SY98SE45. 1/7/E.

<5> Historic England, Historic England Archive (Index). SDO14738.

Object Number
Object Title
Scope And Content
BB91/07819 ERIC GEE AND MARY BALDWIN.
BB91/07820 ERIC GEE.
BB91/07821 ERIC GEE.
BB91/07822 UNSPECIFIED VIEW OF EXCAVATION.
BB91/07823 EXCAVATORS AT REST.
BB91/07824 VIEW OF CORFE CASTLE AND RAMPARTS.
BB91/07825 M.WHEELER INSPECTING SITE.
BB91/07826 MORTIMER WHEELER INSPECTING SITE.
BB91/07847 DR.WHEELER, MICHAEL WHEELER, RICHMOND BROWN, PRUE DINSDALE
P48148 GARDE ROBE SHAFT. Photographer: UNKNOWNOriginal negative held by: UNKNOWN
P48149 POT (A) PIT (A1) GARDE ROBE SHAFT. Photographer: UNKNOWN Original negative held by: UNKNOWN
P48150 POT (C) PIT (A1) GARDE ROBE SHAFT. Photographer: UNKNOWNOriginal negative held by: UNKNOWN
P48151 POT (D) LLUSTRATIFIED. Photographer: UNKNOWNOriginal negative held by: UNKNOWN
P48152 POT (H) PIT (A1). Photographer: UNKNOWNOriginal negative held by: UNKNOWN
P48153 READING LEFT TO RIGHT POT (F) = 1949 POTS (G) 1950.
Photographer: UNKNOWNOriginal negative held by: UNKNOWN
P48154 UNSPECIFIED VIEW OF SITE. Photographer: UNKNOWNOriginal negative held by: UNKNOWN
P48155 POT (J). Photographer: UNKNOWNOriginal negative held by: UNKNOWN
P48156 POT (B) PIT (A2). Photographer: UNKNOWNOriginal negative held by: UNKNOWN
P48157 POT (E) PIT (A1) GARDE ROBE PIT. Photographer: UNKNOWNOriginal negative held by: UNKNOWN

<6> National Record of the Historic Environment, 456847 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Sep 5 2024 5:06PM