Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

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. Excavations at the former site of the substantial Warren and Reynolds store, to the north of Queen Street, revealed the foundations of a substantial Roman tower which would have formed the north side of the large eastern gate of the fort. Little of its structure or related stratigraphy survived due to the extensive later activity at the site, but it was possible to ascertain the original size and plan of the structure. (location accurate to the nearest 2m based on available information).

Monument Types

• GATE TOWER (North tower of east gate, Roman - 125 AD to 210 AD)
• WALL (Walls of eastern gate, Roman - 125 AD to 210 AD)
• Wall Foundation (Foundation of eastern gate tower., Roman - 125 AD to 210 AD)

Associated Finds

• VESSEL (Roman - 69 AD to 117 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. Excavations at the former site of the Warren and Reynolds store, to the north of Queen Street (B.M.W site), revealed the foundations of a substantial Roman tower which would have formed the north side of the large eastern gate of the fort. Little of its original structure or related stratigraphy survived due to the extensive later activity at the site, but it was possible to ascertain the original size and plan of the tower.

The east-west length of the tower was 7m and the north-south width was 4.2m, in plan it consisted of two main elements; the D-shaped front and a rectangular guard room at the rear. The walls of the D shaped front of the tower were 96cm wide gave a total internal width of 1.12m. The guard chamber was much larger with an internal width of 2.38m and length of 3.8m. The foundations were deeper at the eastern side of the structure due to the slope of the ground on which it was situated. They consisted of at least two courses of flints and chalk set in clay. Above this the wall footings, which consisted of three courses of tufa blocks were uncovered with the wall surviving just one course high, also of tufa, and set in a white pebbly mortar. An inserted cross wall of chalk blocks was located within the structure, the function of this, other than to separate the guard chamber from the front of the tower, remains uncertain.

Two walls were located, projecting from the southern side of the tower, 3.1m apart and between 84 and 90cm wide, the function of these is uncertain but they were part of the main build and may have formed sleeper walls, crossing the gatehouse and tying the various elements of the gate together.

It is suggested, by both the evidence gathered about the internal arrangements of the fort, and the monumental nature of the remains, that this eastern gate would have been the primary entrance to the fort. Little dating evidence was recovered but the underlying soil deposits produced samian ware dating to between 69 and 117 A.D., this along with the overlying later remains of the Roman Saxon Shore Fort suggest a date of sometime between 117 and 270 A.D. for the construction, use and final demolition of this structure. (1-2)

The guard house was also examined by the Canterbury Archaeological Trust in 1992. General ground clearance and the removal of concrete was carried out, as well as controlled stratigraphic excavation and detailed survey of the surviving fabrics, prior to its consolidation, capping and re-display (3)

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

<2> Paul Bennett, 1993, Archaeologia Cantiana: Interim Report on work carried out in 1993 by the Canterbury Archaeological Trust Vol. 112 (Article in serial). SKE31772.

<3> Anon., 1993, Interim Report on Work carried out in 1993 by the Canterbury Archaeological Trust (Article in serial). SWX7352.

Sources and further reading

Related records