Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Large scale excavation alongside smaller development sites has revealed the overall picture of Roman Dover. The evidence clearly represents a settlement ranging from Biggin Street in the north to Adrian Street in the south, a distance of about 275 metres. Outlying stratified deposits increased this area to about five hectares. Numerous Roman sites have now been discovered including Roman harbour installations, two forts, numerous barrack blocks and ancillary buildings associated with the fort, and a mansio and other possible extra mural structures including Roman bath houses. (location accurate to the nearest 100m based on available information).

Monument Types

• PORT (Roman - 43 AD? to 409 AD?)
• SETTLEMENT (SETTLEMENT, Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)

Full description

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Until 1970 no real idea of the layout, complexity or even overall function of the Roman settlement at Dover was known. Random masonry and occasional buildings had been recorded during the previous two hundred years though their frequent association with tiles stamped CLBR had suggested that the Roman fleet may have had a base at Dover. No scientific excavation had been carried out prior to the Second World War and subsequent work was limited to recording on building-sites and to small trenches on bombed sites. Parts of five Roman buildings had been seen though none had been subjected to large-scale archaeological excavation. By 1970 the overall picture of Roman Dover was of a settlement ranging from Biggin Street in the north to Adrian Street in the south, a distance of about 275 metres. Outlying stratified deposits increased this area to about five hectares (12.5 acres) though there was no certainty that the deposits were continuous. As regards objects comparatively few of first century date had been found, a great many of second century date and rather fewer of the third and fourth centuries. (1) Rivet and Smith associate the place name Dubris with the Roman Fort. (2)

Some of the main features uncovered across Dover include; two Roman forts at associated with the harbour. The first was a fort related to the Classis Britannica built in the first half of 2nd century. This went out of use and was replaced by a larger Saxon Shore fort belonging to c.270. (3) Part of the Roman Harbour wall was found in 1855-6 during excavations for Russell Street Gas works, it was situated approximately 6m below the current ground level. In 1955-6 during excavations at Stembrook Court, more timber features of Roman date were uncovered alongside chalk surfaces and interpreted as a Roman pier and jetty/quay. (4) The 'Painted House' is the remains of a Roman town house, constructed AD 200 and noted for its wall paintings. Its position just outside the Classis Britannica fort suggests that it served as the private dwelling of a leading naval or government official or as a mansio for important travellers. (5) Finally a substantial Roman military bath-house which was discovered by the Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit in 1973. The site, which lies to the north of Market Street, is just outside the area covered by the 3rd century fortress. The building measures twenty by eight metres and consists of a series of six heated rooms with the walls surviving to an average height of two metres, rising to four metres at one corner. (6)

<1> Philp, B. J., 1981, The Excavation of the Roman Forts of the Classis Britannica at Dover 1970-1977, The Excav of the Roman Forts of the Classis Britanica at Dover 1970-77 1981 9-11 (B Philp) (Monograph). SKE7863.

<2> A. L. F. Rivet and C. Smith, 1979, The Place Names of Roman Britain, Place names of Roman Britain 1979 341 (A L F Rivet & C Smith) (Monograph). SKE31969.

<3> Johnston, S., 1976, Roman Forts of the Saxon Shore (Monograph). SKE7857.

<4> Philip A. Rahtz, 1958, Archaeologia Cantiana, Dover: Stembrook and St. Martin Le Grand. Vol. 72 (Article in serial). SKE31641.

<5> Philp, B, 1989, The Roman House with Bacchic Murals at Dover (Monograph). SKE24004.

<6> Johnston, S., 1976, Roman Forts of the Saxon Shore (Monograph). SKE7857.

Sources and further reading

Related records

Related thematic articles

• Roman Kent (Thematic Essay)