Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A Roman road approximately 22ft wide running north and south with two shallow gutters dividing it up into three carriage- ways was located in 1946 to the Church of St. Martin-Le-Grand, Dover. This was flanked on the east by a wall of squared chalk blocks still preserved to a height of some four feet. The finds of pottery and small objects point to the occupation of the above rooms in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. The remains are cut by a number of Medieval pits. (location accurate to the nearest 50m based on available information)

Monument Types

• GULLY (Roman - 100 AD? to 299 AD?)
• ROAD (Roman - 100 AD? to 299 AD?)
• WALL (Roman - 100 AD? to 299 AD?)
• PIT (Medieval - 1066 AD? to 1539 AD?)

Associated Finds

• SHERD (Roman - 100 AD? to 299 AD?)
• BROOCH (Medieval - 1066 AD? to 1539 AD?)
• SHERD (Medieval - 1066 AD? to 1539 AD?)

Full description

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(taken from source) In 1946 an area was excavated in Dover under the direction of Mrs Murray - Threipland. This site towards the western side of the suggested Roman fortress, and south of that of St Martin's le Grand, showed some 7ft down a road probably 22ft wide running north and south with two shallow gutters dividing it up into three carriage- ways. This was flanked on the east by a wall of squared chalk blocks still preserved to a height of some four feet, although cut into by Medieval pits. Two periods of walling join this wall at right angles, and, from their nature, indicate perhaps a row of shops or barracks, with clay floors and unplastered walls. In one place a few tiles and stones laid down in a scattering of cement gave a firmer footing.

The finds of pottery and small objects point to the occupation of the above rooms in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. The later levels must have been destroyed by the medieval builders for 4th century material occurs frequently at their tips in this area. Among the more important objects is an enamel brooch, while a good deal of the medieval pottery is especially welcome as much is identical with similar fabrics found at the site of the medieval town of Stonar, near Sandwich. (1)

<1> W. P. D. Stebbing, 1947, Archaeologia Cantiana: Reports. Vol. 60 (Article in serial). SKE32109.

<1> 1975, Post-medieval archaeology: the journal of the Society for Post-Medieval Archaeology (Article in serial). SKE53697.

Sources and further reading