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. Small sections of the south and west walls of room 11 were located, including the south west corner. The walls were constructed of tufa and flint, they were 78cm wide and survived to a height of 1.75m (15 courses). A floor was also located over much of the excavated area. (location accurate to the nearest 2m based on available information).

Monument Types

• FLOOR (internal Opus Signinum floor, Roman - 155 AD? to 390 AD?)
• METALLED SURFACE (External metalled surface, Roman - 155 AD? to 390 AD?)
• WALL (walls of room 11, Roman - 155 AD? to 390 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. Small sections of the south and west walls of room 11 were located, including the south west corner. The walls were constructed of tufa and flint, they were 78cm wide and survived to a height of 1.75m (15 courses). Traces of an opus signinum floor were also located.

The corner of the walls was supported externally by a pair of integral buttresses, each 50cm long and 78cm wide. A metalled surface was also located butting the external face of the walls, this probably represents the surface of an associated courtyard. The assumed large size and lack of a hypocaust suggests a possible use of this room as a dressing room, but this is uncertain. (1)

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

Sources and further reading

Related records