SDO9571 - South Walks CSO, Dorchester, Dorset: Archaeological Observations and Recording

Archaeological observations were undertaken during sewerage improvement works at the junction of South Street and South Walks, Dorchester, on the line of the Roman town defences. No trace of the defences was encountered. However, Roman road gravels were observed at a depth of 1 m, overlying earlier soil deposits lying directly on top of undisturbed chalk bedrock. The alignment of the road was not determined, but it is probably part of the southern approach road to the town. These discoveries add credence to the hypothesis that this is the area of the south gate of the Roman town. Traces of a robbed-out building of possible 18th century date were found overlying the Roman road gravels. This building has been identified on an 1810 map of Dorchester.