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 building, a substantial Roman building consisting of 6 main rooms was uncovered lying on an east-west axis. This structure is today known as the ‘Painted House’ due to the vast quantity of painted wall plaster which was located, largely in situ, in association with it. The uncovered remains remain open to the public for viewing. Room 5, which was located at the western end of the complex and had been heavily damaged by the excavation of the west ditch of the late Roman Saxon Shore fort, had a hypocaust heating system underlying an opus signinum floor. As with the overlying room, the hypocaust had been heavily damaged; parts of only three channels survived. (location accurate to the nearest 2m based on available information)

Monument Types

• HYPOCAUST (Roman - 200 AD to 270 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 building, a substantial Roman building consisting of 6 main rooms was uncovered lying on an east-west axis. This structure is today known as the ‘Painted House’ due to the vast quantity of painted wall plaster which was located, largely in situ, in association with it. The uncovered remains remain open to the public for viewing. Room 5, which was located at the western end of the complex and had been heavily damaged by the excavation of the west ditch of the late Roman Saxon Shore fort, had a hypocaust heating system underlying an opus signinum floor. As with the overlying room, the hypocaust had been heavily damaged; parts of only three channels survived.

It is likely that this hypocaust was very similar, if not identical to those located beneath rooms 1-3. Alongside the sections of surviving underfloor channels, one vertical wall flue was also present in the centre of the east wall. The channels measured 24-30cm in width and 64cm in height and were constructed in deep cuts made in the underlying deposits and natural brick earth and were lined with mortared chalk blocks and capped with corbelled arches. The hot air would have then passed from these channels into vertical wall ducts which consisted of box flue tiles built into the walls. (1)

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

Sources and further reading

Related records