Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

During excavations undertaken in Dover town centre by Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit, a Roman military bath house was excavated and recorded. Room three was a hot room, located to the east of the hot bath in room 2, again this room showed evidence of having been substantially re built in the period two redevelopment of the bath house. (location accurate to the nearest 2m based on available information)

Monument Types

• WALL (Period 1 walls, Roman - 155 AD? to 190 AD?)
• FLOOR (period 2 floor, Roman - 190 AD? to 390 AD)
• WALL (period 2 walls, Roman - 190 AD? to 390 AD)

Associated Finds

• TILE (Roman - 100 AD? to 200 AD?)

Full description

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(summarised from publication)

During excavations undertaken in Dover town centre by Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit, a Roman military bath house was excavated and recorded. Room three was a hot room, located to the east of the hot bath in room 2, again this room showed evidence of having been substantially re built in the period two redevelopment of the bath house.

Due to the substantial nature of the re build in this room, only small sections of the original period one room were visible on the north and south sides. It appears to have been constructed of tufa and measured 4.95m (N-S) by 4.4m (E-W). Imprints of 6 pilae bases were observed on the floor base showing that the period one room had been provided with a hypocaust beneath.

In contrast to the period one room, the period two room survived to a remarkable extent, a new floor of rammed chalk and pebbles surfaced with opius signinum was laid, and walls 68-78cm thick were erected. The area of best preservation was in the north west corner which survived to a height of 2.72m (27 courses), and showed that the walls were of tile for the bottom 1.4m and chalk block and tile above that, all set in a pink-red opius signinum. A small section of the floor above the hypocaust also survived here, indicating that the total height of the pilae, including the capping and bridging tiles, was 1.22m and that the floor, which was of a pink-white mortar, was 11cm thick. A complete door sill was located in the east wall of this room, constructed of yellow sandstone block measuring 1.44m in length by 63cm in width. Another opening in its south wall lead to room four in which was situated another hot bath. (1)

<1> Brian Philp, The Discovery and Excavation of the Roman Shore Fort at Dover, Kent (Monograph). SKE32061.

Sources and further reading

Related records