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 a series of extensive rescue excavations, ahead of development in Dover’s town centre undertaken by Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit a building, the greater part of which is still located beneath the floors and walls of rooms 1 and 2 of the ‘Painted House’, was uncovered. Most of its south wall however was revealed, this consisted of large flints, chalk and tufa blocks, set on footings of flints set in a white mortar, which were in turn position upon foundations of large un-mortared chalk blocks. (location accurate to the nearest 2m based on available information)

Monument Types

• WALL (Walls of building C7, Roman - 160 AD? to 200 AD?)
• Wall Foundation (Foundations of room C7, Roman - 160 AD? to 200 AD)

Associated Finds

• SHERD (Roman - 150 AD? to 200 AD)

Full description

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

(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 building, the greater part of which is still located beneath the floors and walls of rooms 1 and 2 of the ‘Painted House’, was uncovered. Most of its south wall however was revealed, this consisted of large flints, chalk and tufa blocks, set on footings of flints set in a white mortar, which were in turn positioned upon foundations of large un-mortared chalk blocks.

Some 8m of the south wall of this structure was located, alongside this, short lengths of the east, west and north walls, along with parts of two internal walls were also uncovered. It is possible that this structure was associated and contemporary with the buttressed building which is situated less than 1m to the north. The building is laid out in an approximate rectangle with its north and south sides being approximately 11.4m in length and its east and west approximately 9m. The two sections of internal walling suggest a minimum of three rooms but more internal divisions may be located beneath the floors of the painted house. The known rooms measure internally; 1.7m by 4.1m (smallest room in the south west corner), 5.65m by 4.1m (north eastern room) and 8m by 5.65m (eastern room). The stratigraphic information gathered in association with this building suggest a date of between A.D. 160 and 180 for its construction and it was certainly demolished by the time the painted house was constructed in A.D. 200. (1)

<1> Philp, B, 1989, The Roman House with Bacchic Murals at Dover (Monograph). SKE24004.

Sources and further reading