Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Remains discovered in 1868 were identified and interpreted as the site of the theatre following excavations by the Canterbury Excavation Committee in 1950-56 at 3 St Margaret's Street. The theatre was of two periods and was in existence by AD100. The theatre was completely remodelled on a classical plan cAD210-26. The two outer walls of this theatre were found, divided by a corridor floored with opus signinum, 9ft wide. The entire surviving structure was of flint with tile courses, but there is evidence to suggest that the superstructure was of stone. Some details of the substructure were recarved, including the foundations of a possible staircase and of walls which supported the seating above. The theatre had probably been demolished by the middle of the 12th century. Foundations of part of the Cavea, which supported the theatre's banked seating and a section of an opus signinum floor which was originally part of curved walkway was found during excavations in the back garden of No 25 Watling Street in 1987.

Monument Types

• THEATRE (THEATRE, Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)

Full description

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(Centred TR 14805765. Sited from plan (4). Roman Theatre. Pilbrow (1) was the first to locate fragments of the theatre in 1868 when he observed 'a very heavy foundation and paving of stone' at the north end of Castle Street, approximately south west of 42 St Margaret's Street. These remains were identified and interpreted as the site of the theatre following excavations by the Canterbury Excavation Committee in 1950-56 at 3 St Margaret's Street. The theatre was of two periods and was in existence by AD100. The theatre was completely remodelled on a classical plan cAD210-26. The two outer walls of this theatre were found, divided by a corridor floored with opus signinum, 9ft wide. The entire surviving structure was of flint with tile courses, but there is evidence to suggest that the superstructure was of stone. Some details of the substructure were recarved, including the foundations of a possible staircase and of walls which supported the seating above. The theatre had probably been demolished by the middle of the 12th century. Foundations of part of the Cavea, which supported the theatre's banked seating and a section of an opus signinum floor which was originally part of curved walkway was found during excavations in the back garden of No 25 Watling Street in 1987. (1-5) Additional bibliography. (6-8) Additional bibliography - not consulted. (9) Parts of the outer curtain walls were recorded by CAT in Watling St. at the Castle St. intersection. (10)

Southern Water Board trench revealled a wall from the roman theatre truncated by an eariler service trench cut by James Pilbrow, city Engineer, in 1868. The wall exposed comprised six flint courses bonded in orange-brown mortar. The upper-most course bore the scar of a tile string course on its surface. The wall, 1.5m in length, previously noted by Pilbrow dates from the first theatre. (11)

<1> Arch 43 1 1871 151-164 (S Pilbrow) (OS Card Reference). SKE34411.

<2> The Arch of Cant: An Assessment 1985 109 110 (G Andrews) (OS Card Reference). SKE50009.

<3> Brit 1 1970 83-113 (S Frere) (OS Card Reference). SKE38291.

<4> Canterbury's Arch 1987-88 4-5 plan drawing (P Bennett) (OS Card Reference). SKE38566.

<5> Arch Cant 100 1984 52-3 (P Bennett) (OS Card Reference). SKE34545.

<6> JRS 47 1957 225 (OS Card Reference). SKE45105.

<7> Arch NL 3 1950-1 151 (SS Frere) (OS Card Reference). SKE36790.

<8> Arch N L 4 1951-53 26 (SS Frere) (OS Card Reference). SKE36779.

<9> Roman Canterbury 1957 9 (S Frere) (OS Card Reference). SKE49328.

<10> CAT Annual Report, 1986-7. (OS Card Reference). SKE38706.

<11> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 1990, Canterbury's Archaeology 1988-1989, pages 3-4 (Monograph). SKE6722.

Sources and further reading

Related records

Related thematic articles

• Roman Kent (Thematic Essay)