SDO9810 - The Roman wall

The Roman wall which bound the residence of Mr. Burnett, in the West Walk, was the next place for lingering, and here Mr. CUNNINGTON, still holding the office of cicerone, said: The remnant of Roman Wall at the west end of Dorchester is only now of 27ft in length. It has been uncovered this day – May 28th – showing the present remainder to be 9ft in thickness and 8ft in height. It is placed on a foundation of the original chalk flints, the wall itself being from the Ridgeway quarries. The original pitched path at the bottom of the inside of the wall remains. The present gravel walk shows a rise of 4ft of the surface. Forty-eight feet of this wall was destroyed when the present house and stables were built about 40 years ago. The Mayor of Dorchester called special attention to an interesting egg spoon, discovered at the place by the late Mr. Boswell, who built the house. It was suggested by Mr. Cunnington the spoon had been used in extracting periwinkles and snails from the shells.