During excavations for the foundations of the Lloyd’s Bank on the northern side of Market Square, Dover, in 1905, several features of archaeological interest were located. A flint wall containing large Roman tiles was uncovered. When discovered is was interpreted as a boundary wall to the Roman bath house which was thought to be located beneath the St Marys Church, just to the North on Cannon Street (later interpretations of the remains beneath St. Marys church suggest that it was merely a hypocausted building rather than a bath house).(1) Later excavations undertaken across Dover town centre have identified the presence of a Roman Saxon Shore Fort, situated partly beneath the area encompassed by Market Square, it therefore seems likely that this wall is associated with an interior building of this fort. The Roman wall was found in association with a large quantity of Roman pottery and tile, including decorated Samian Ware fragments. Much of the pottery is now located in Maidstone Museum, including one sherd which is stamped on the base with the name ‘MARCELLIUS’. (2)

<1> Dover Express, 1905, The Dover Express - Friday 21st of July 1905 (Newspaper). SKE32398.

<2> Jessie Mothersole, 1924, The Saxon Shore (Monograph). SKE32397.