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, extensive remains of the Classis Britannica Fort were uncovered and recorded, these included parts of all four of the walls, two gate houses, numerous drains and sewers and at least nine of the internal structures of the fort. From this evidence it is clear that the arrangements broadly reflect the standard layout of a Roman auxiliary fort and it is therefore possible to ascertain the locations of the structures and features which are commonly located within Roman forts but remained unexcavated at Dover. It seems highly probable that another barrack block (B28) would have been located to the south of the main east-west road running through the fort, and to the east of the main north-south road running through the fort, to the west of structures B26 and B27. (location accurate to the nearest 50m based on available information).

Monument Types

• BARRACKS (B28 possible barrack?, 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, extensive remains of the Classis Britannica Fort were uncovered and recorded, these included parts of all four of the walls, two gate houses, numerous drains and sewers and at least nine of the internal structures of the fort. From this evidence it is clear that the arrangements broadly reflect the standard layout of a Roman auxiliary fort and it is therefore possible to ascertain the locations of the structures and features which are commonly located within Roman forts but remained unexcavated at Dover. It seems highly probable that another barrack block (B28) would have been located to the south of the main east-west road running through the fort, and to the east of the main north-south road running through the fort, to the west of structures B26 and B27.

The area it would have occupied lay well outside of the area affected by the 1970's development, under the Battle of Britain Homes and it is possible that it was largely destroyed by the construction of these dwellings. Nothing about its form may be ascertained with any certainty but it is possible that it was similar to barrack block B19 which would have been situated opposite it, on the northern side of the east-west road. (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