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

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 in an area covering most of the disused burial ground of St. Martin-Le-Grand's church (Burial Ground site) were undertaken in 1970, during these excavations the west guard room of the northern gate house of the CLBR fort was uncovered. (location accurate to the nearest 2m based on available information)

Monument Types

• GATEHOUSE (Roman - 125 AD to 210 AD)
• OVEN (pear shaped oven, Roman - 125 AD to 210 AD)
• CESS PIT (Roman - 145 AD to 210 AD)

Associated Finds

• SHERD (Roman - 69 AD? to 170 AD)
• MORTARIUM (Roman - 96 AD to 192 AD)
• COIN (Roman - 103 AD to 111 AD)
• PIN (Roman - 125 AD? to 210 AD?)
• SHERD (Roman - 125 AD? to 250 AD?)
• COIN (Roman - 140 AD to 144 AD)

Full description

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

(summarised from publication)

During extensive rescue excavations undertaken across Dovers Town centre by Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit, sections of the defensive ditch and berm were located on all four sides of the fort. During excavations in an area covering most of the disused burial ground of St. Martin-Le-Grand's church (Burial Ground site) the west guard room of the northern gate house of the CLBR fort was uncovered.

It was constructed of tufa blocks set in a white tufa mortar, 56cm wide. The original east-west width of this guard chamber was 2.12m, the original north-south width is uncertain due to the replacement of both the north and south walls. A small pear shaped oven was apparent at the north end of the guard room, this was filled with ash and sealed by bands of clay which formed the floor of the period 1 guard room. A large oval cess pit cut a substantial part of the guard chamber, this was filled with material datable to the second half of the second century. This pit was sealed by a new floor which was laid at the same time the new north and south walls were erected. These new walls gave new internal dimensions to the guardhouse of 2.6m by 2.12m. The new floor consisted of a mortar spread which was eventually covered by 2m of mixed black-brown loam and human skeletal material which represents the use of the site as a burial ground in the post medieval period. (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