Exploring Kent's Past

It should not be assumed that this site is publicly accessible and it may be on private property. Do not trespass.

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 eight was situated to the east of room 7, its north and west walls were uncovered in their entirety but only small sections of the east and south walls were revealed. All of these seem to belong to the first period of development of this bath house complex suggesting that this end of the building was not included in the major period two alterations evidenced in all of the previous rooms (rooms 1-7). (location accurate to the nearest 2m based on available information).

Monument Types

• FLOOR (Roman - 155 AD to 390 AD)
• WALL (Roman - 155 AD to 390 AD)

Associated Finds

• COIN (Roman - 367 AD to 383 AD)

Full description

If you do not understand anything on this page please contact us.

(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 eight was situated to the east of room 7, its north and west walls were uncovered in their entirety but only small sections of the east and south walls were revealed. All of these seem to belong to the first period of development of this bath house complex suggesting that this end of the building was not included in the major period two alterations evidenced in all of the previous rooms (rooms 1-7).

The walls were constructed of tufa blocks set in a white pebbly mortar; they were between 68cm and 74 cm wide, and survived to a maximum height of 1.95m. The maximum internal dimensions were 5.67m (N-S) and an estimated 4.4m (E-W). The floor was of crushed tufa and mortar, this was later replaced with a chalk block, flint and mortar floor with a surface of opus signinum. Residual evidence of an inserted doorway in the west wall was revealed but most of it had been destroyed by a later, Medieval pit. A pebble blocked hypocaust arch was also recorded in the west wall this ran diagonally into room 7. (1)

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

Sources and further reading

Related records