Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

During extensive rescue excavations undertaken across Dovers Town centre by Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit, sections of all four walls of the Classsis Britannica were located and recorded. A section of the west wall was located during excavations on Durham Hill in 1971. This section was running southwards and survived substantially intact. (location accurate to the nearest 2m based on available information)

Monument Types

• WALL (Roman - 125 AD to 210 AD)

Full description

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(Summarised from publication)

During extensive rescue excavations undertaken across Dover’s Town centre by Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit, sections of all four walls of the Classsis Britannica were located and recorded. A section of the west wall was located during excavations on Durham Hill in 1971. This section ran southwards for c. 6.7m and survived substantially intact.

The wall was constructed of chalk and tufa, the outside face consisted of alternate courses of neatly faced tufa and chalk blocks while the inner face was entirely of neatly squared chalk blocks. Both sides were set in a fine gritty mortar and the core was of chalk rubble. The top of the wall was about 50cm from the ground level at the time of excavation and despite being cut by a few 19th century services, survived to a maximum height of 1.35m (9 courses) with a width of 1.2m. (1)

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

Sources and further reading

Related records