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

Excavation in trench 11 during an evaluation undertaken by Oxford Archaeological Unit in Dover town centre in 1988-91 revealed a network of chalk block gutters and drains just outside of building 20 associated with the Classis Britannica fort II (location accurate to the nearest 5m based on available information).

Monument Types

• DRAIN (Roman - 117 AD? to 208 AD?)

Full description

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

Trench 11 was situated between the north end of the barrack block B20 and the south wall of building 32 (building etc. numbers relate to those given by Philp 1981)(1). A network of gutters and drains were located outside building 20 within this trench. Three gutters and two drains were uncovered in total, two of the gutters and a drain into which they emptied were associated with the first phase of development of this area, and another gutter was added in the second phase (possibly to resolve drainage issues within the building). A date of the mid second century or later has been assigned to these phases. The third phase includes the construction of a further drain and gutter which would have drained the new north extension of building 20 (also part of the third phase of development of this area). All are constructed of chalk blocks. (2)

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

<2> Wilkinson, D. R. P., 1995, Archaeologia Cantiana, Excavations on the White Cliffs Experience site, Dover, 1988-91. Vol. 114 (Article in serial). SKE31729.

Sources and further reading

Related records