Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

During a series of extensive rescue excavations, ahead of development in Dover’s town centre undertaken by Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit a number of small sub-circular or ovoid structures were uncovered beneath the occupation deposits associated with the Roman Saxon Shore Fort. These were located in an area immediately to the south and south-west of the remains of the church of St Martin-Le-Grand (Barwicks Yard Site). The function of these features is uncertain, some of them, may have been small animal pens but the presence of ovens and hearths in others suggests their use at some point as workshops of huts. (location accurate to the nearest 5m based on available information)

Monument Types

• HEARTH (Roman - 200 AD? to 210 AD?)
• OVEN (Roman - 200 AD? to 210 AD?)
• POST HOLE (numerous post holes, Roman - 200 AD? to 210 AD?)
• STAKE HOLE (Numerous stake holes, Roman - 200 AD? to 210 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 number of small sub-circular or ovoid structures were uncovered beneath the occupation deposits associated with the Roman Saxon Shore Fort. These were located in an area immediately to the south and south-west of the remains of the church of St Martin-Le-Grand (Barwicks Yard Site). The function of these features is uncertain, some of them, may have been small animal pens but the presence of ovens and hearths in others suggests their use at some point as workshops of huts.

At least 11 of these features were identified, ranging in size from 4m to 9m, most were lined with double sets of stake holes and flanked by shallow gullies. The features largely respect each other but occasionally they overlap suggesting that there was at least two phases. It is likely the vertical stakes represented by the numerous stake holes would have held horizontal wattles. The absence of any large post holes however, suggests that these features were not roofed thus their interpretation as animal pens fits. The hearths and ovens located within 7 of the 11 features does not fit with this interpretation and rather suggests that at some point they were used as workshops or simple domestic huts. (1)

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

Sources and further reading