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. The extreme west end of the bath house complex was occupied by a stoke hole or furnace room, in which was situated a large furnace on the eastern side. The original furnace was almost completely concealed by a later furnace which was not removed during the excavation. This later furnace was subsequently re-located during the period three development of the bath house, eastwards into room two. (location accurate to the nearest 2m based on available information)

Monument Types

• FURNACE (Roman - 160 AD? to 375 AD?)

Associated Finds

• COIN (Roman - 64 AD to 68 AD)
• COIN (Roman - 69 AD to 79 AD)
• COIN (Roman - 268 AD to 270 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. The extreme west end of the bath house complex was occupied by a stoke hole or furnace room, in which was situated a large furnace on the eastern side which heated the hot bath in room two immediately to the east. The original furnace was almost completely concealed by a later furnace which was not removed during the excavation. This later furnace was subsequently re-located during the period three development of the bath house, eastwards into room two.

The original period 1 furnace survived in part to a height of 60cm and had been constructed of sandstone blocks, flints and tufa. It projected outwards about 1.85m from the east wall and must have been provided with a central flue. A series of soils overlying this furnace may represent a period of abandonment of the bath house, these produce two worn coins which dated to 64-79 AD and were probably decades old when lost. The second period furnace measured 2m in length and had a central channel 60cm wide and constructed of sandstone blocks, tiles chalk block, tufa and flint. During the period three development of the bath house, both the stoke room and period two furnace appear to have been completely abandoned and replaced by a new furnace which cut into the west wall of the hot bath on the adjacent room 2, which it largely destroyed. This furnace partly rested upon the damaged pilae underlying the hot bath in room two and was constructed of large sandstone blocks set in yellow clay and with a base of tiles. Traces of the rake back from this furnace were recorded in the original stoke hole. A series of deposits representing the use of the period 3 furnace produced coins datable to the late second and third century A.D. (1)

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

Sources and further reading

Related records