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Monument details

HER Number:TR 34 SW 1702
Type of record:Monument
Name:Inserted Gateway in the southern wall of the Roman Saxon Shore Fort at Dover.

Summary

During a series of extensive rescue excavations, ahead of development in Dover’s town centre, undertaken by Kent Archaeological Rescue unit a series of features relating to the late Roman Saxon Shore Fort were excavated and recorded. During excavation at the Gaol Lane site, in an area which had been heavily disturbed by Medieval and post medieval activity, a sub-rectangular structural element represented by a mass of greensand blocks was apparent. It is likely that this is the basal stone for pier carrying an arch. (location accurate to the nearest 2m based on available information)


Grid Reference:TR 31935 41367
Map Sheet:TR34SW
Parish:DOVER, DOVER, KENT

Monument Types

  • GATEWAY (gate in southern wall of shore fort, Roman - 240 AD to 330 AD)

Full description

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(Summarised from publication)

During a series of extensive rescue excavations, ahead of development in Dover’s town centre, undertaken by Kent Archaeological Rescue unit a series of features relating to the late Roman Saxon Shore Fort were excavated and recorded. During excavation at the Gaol Lane site, in an area which had been heavily disturbed by Medieval and post medieval activity, a sub-rectangular structural element represented by a mass of greensand blocks was apparent. It is likely that this is the basal stone for pier carrying an arch.

It was 2.2m by 1.4m and survived two courses high above four courses of chalk block and appeared to form a large respond just forward of the central axis of the fort wall. The area to the east of this feature had been largely destroyed by Medieval pits but it seems highly likely that there was a corresponding eastern respond with a central gap of at least 2m. The interpretation of this feature as a gateway is strongly supported by the presence of two extensive areas of metalling to the north and south of this feature, possibly representing roads. (1)


<1> Brian Philp, The Discovery and Excavation of the Roman Shore Fort at Dover, Kent (Monograph). SKE32061.

Sources and further reading

Cross-ref. Source description
<1>Monograph: Brian Philp. The Discovery and Excavation of the Roman Shore Fort at Dover, Kent.

Related records

TR 34 SW 100Part of: Site of a Roman Saxon Shore Fort (3rd-4th century), Dover (Monument)