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 have remained unexcavated at Dover. It is likely that there was a barrack block (B34) in the space between the southern walls of barrack blocks B24-28 and the northern face of the southern fort wall (approximately 16m). This space between the barracks and fort wall at the northern end of the fort is occupied by B32 and it is likely that if a building existed in this space it would have been similar in size and form to B32. (1)

Monument Types

• BARRACKS (B34 possible barrack block, 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 have remained unexcavated at Dover. It is likely that there was a barrack block (B34) in the space between the southern walls of barrack blocks B24-28 and the northern face of the southern fort wall (approximately 16m). This space between the barracks and fort wall at the northern end of the fort is occupied by B32 and it is likely that if a building existed in this space it would have been similar in size and form to B32. (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