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Monument details

HER Number:TR 34 SW 1590
Type of record:Monument
Name:Barrack block (B30) of the CLBR fort II, located at Durham Hill, Dover

Summary

During extensive rescue excavations undertaken across Dovers Town centre by Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit, Substantial remains of the Classis Britannica fort were uncovered and recorded. The northern end on one of the barrack blocks was located within a small area of excavation on Durham Hill (Durham Hill south site) in 1971. The building, which lay on a north-south axis was constructed of roughly squared chalk blocks set in an orange clay. (location accurate to the nearest 2m based on available information)


Grid Reference:TR 31807 41368
Map Sheet:TR34SW
Parish:DOVER, DOVER, KENT

Monument Types

  • BARRACKS (Period III barracks, Roman - 190 AD? to 210 AD)

Associated Finds

  • SHERD (Roman - 69 AD to 190 AD)
  • SHERD (Roman - 70 AD? to 260 AD?)
  • BROOCH (Roman - 100 AD to 399 AD)
  • DISC (Roman - 125 AD? to 210 AD?)
  • FITTING (Roman - 125 AD? to 210 AD?)
  • NEEDLE (Roman - 125 AD? to 210 AD?)
  • PIN (Roman - 125 AD? to 210 AD?)
  • STUD (Roman - 125 AD? to 210 AD?)
  • TILE (Roman - 125 AD to 210 AD)
  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Roman - 125 AD? to 210 AD?)
  • WHETSTONE (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, Substantial remains of the Classis Britannica fort were uncovered and recorded. The northern end on one of the barrack blocks was located within a small area of excavation on Durham Hill (Durham Hill south site) in 1971. The building, which lay on a north-south axis was constructed of roughly squared chalk blocks set in an orange clay.

The overall width of the building was 6.38m, and its cross walls, which were located in service trenches to the south of this excavation area indicate an overall length of approximately 24.5m. The walls generally survived to three courses high, with a height of each course being between 8 and 13cm. They were set on substantial flint foundations which were 65cm wide and the width of the walls was between 57-60cm. There was no trace of a mortared floor and it was likely that the floor simply consisted of dumped clay.

There was no evidence of a rebuild of this building, which contrasts sharply to the other barrack blocks at this site. This, alongside the fact that it overlies a period II road and its unusual position between the granary and west wall, suggests a period three date for this block. (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

Cross-ref. Source description
<1>Monograph: Philp, B. J.. 1981. The Excavation of the Roman Forts of the Classis Britannica at Dover 1970-1977.

Related records

TR 34 SW 2Part of: Classis Britannica Fort I and II, Roman 2nd century Fort, Dover (Monument)