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 series of demolition layers relating to the demolition of the eastern side of the Roman 'Painted House' and associated structures, and the construction of the late Roman Saxon Shore Fort, were recorded. (location accurate to the nearest 5m based on available information)

Monument Types

• DEMOLITION LAYER (Roman - 250 AD? to 270 AD?)
• RAMPART (Roman - 250 AD? to 330 AD?)

Associated Finds

• TILE (Roman - 125 AD? to 240 AD)

Full description

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(summarised from publication)

During extensive rescue excavations, ahead of development in Dover’s town centre undertaken by Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit, a series of demolition layers relating to the demolition of the eastern side of the Roman 'Painted House' and its associated structures, and the construction of the late Roman Saxon Shore Fort were recorded.

The construction of the shore fort was, for the earlier structures at the site, clearly devastating. Both the Tufa Block building and the eastern side of the ‘Painted House’ lay on the line of the western Shore Fort wall, ditch and rampart. Much of what was not completely demolished lay buried beneath deep demolition deposits and dumped soil which made up the rampart bank.

The dating evidence for the demolition of the painted house consists of 10 coins, 37 samian vessels, 606 coarse pottery sherds. This evidence suggests that the demolition of the painted house and the formation of the lower part of the rampart which sealed the rubble could not have taken place before 240 A.D. and a date range of 250-270 A.D. is the most likely. (1)

The lower part of a flat building tile was found within these demolition deposits overlying the painted house. The tile was 20cm wide by 13cm high and 3.6cm thick with the upper portion lost. Before the tile was fired the tile maker used a stick to cut the letters deeply. The inscription reads 'I […] have made 550 box tiles'. A second writer using cursive or running hand has also written on the tile in shallower lettering 'I have shattered 51 box tiles'. In the third and fourth lines the space has been filled by the letter 'S' placed forward or in reverse. (2-3)

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

<2> R. P. Wright, 1973, Kent Archaeological Review; Tile Makers Score from Dover. Vol. 34. (Article in serial). SKE31752.

<3> Brian Philp, The Discovery and Excavation of the Roman Shore Fort at Dover, Kent (Monograph). SKE32061.

Sources and further reading

Related records