Monument record MWX3310 - Roman ditches, Rigler Road, Hamworthy, Poole

Two large parallel Roman ditches aligned NE-SW were found during a watching brief at Proos Building Supplies, Rigler Road, Hamworthy. The ditches were about 8 m wide and spaced 10 m apart. The size, spacing and orientation of the ditches suggest they may be part of the defences of the mid 1st century Roman fort or military supply base on the Hamworthy peninsula. The ditches were filled in by the 2nd century AD.

A watching brief carried out by Terrain Archaeology during the digging for the foundations of an extension to buildings at Proos Building Supplies, Rigler Road, Hamworthy in 2001 revealed traces of two parallel large Roman ditches, oriented NE/SW. The westernmost ditch was 8.1 m wide and over 0.8 m deep. Only a very small part of the easternmost ditch was exposed. The ditches were spaced 10 m apart. The ditches were filled with layers of dark grey and brown sands and silts. A small quantity of Roman pottery including an early 2nd century sherd and briquetage were recovered from the upper fills of the ditch. The lower fills were devoid of artefacts.

The size, spacing and orientation of the ditches suggest they may be part of the defences of the mid 1st century Roman fort or military supply base, other parts of which have been found elsewhere on the Hamworthy peninsula. The ditches were filled in by the 2nd century AD.

Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 200, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 2003, 167 (Serial). SDO12289.

Bellamy, P, 2001, Proos Roofing Supplies, Rigler Road, Hamworthy, Poole: Archaeological Observations (Unpublished document). SWX8643.

Record last edited

May 28 2021 10:36AM