Monument record TR 34 SW 1564 - Room seven (Tepid room) of the Roman military bath house, Dover

Summary

During excavations undertaken in Dover town centre by Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit, a Roman military bath house was excavated and recorded. Room seven which was situated towards the eastern end of the complex, to the east of room five and west of rooms 8 and 10. It was relatively large with internal measurements on 5.68m (N-S) by 3.75m (E-W), and multiple periods of development are represented by the evidence. Unlike the other rooms however, here four periods of construction were suggested. (location accurate to the nearest 2m based on available information).

Location

Grid reference Centred TR 3186 4144 (6m by 9m) (87 map features)
Map sheet TR34SW
County KENT
District DOVER, KENT
Civil Parish DOVER, DOVER, KENT

Map

Type and Period (4)

Full Description

(summarised from publication)

During excavations undertaken in Dover town centre by Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit, a Roman military bath house was excavated and recorded. Room seven which was situated towards the eastern end of the complex, to the east of room five and west of rooms 8 and 10. It was relatively large with internal measurements on 5.68m (N-S) by 3.75m (E-W), with walls surviving to a maximum height of 2m. Multiple periods of development are represented by the evidence, unlike the other rooms however, here four periods of construction were suggested.

As is the case with the majority of the rooms uncovered, tufa block walls with white mortar and an opus signinum floor with imprints of now lost pilae, suggesting the presence of a hypocaust, represent the primary period one construction, which was substantially re built in period two. A new west wall of chalk blocks and tile was constructed in period two along with a new base of flint sealed by opus signinum over which was situated a new hypocaust, which supported the new floor. The floor in this room was capped by a layer of flat tiles and represents the only tiled floor uncovered within the complex. A doorway between rooms seven and five is represented by a large sandstone door sill set just above the floor level.

The period three development of the room consisted of the removal of the floor and underlying hypocaust at the northern end of the room and the insertion of a large cold bath, 2.95m (E-W) by 2.16m (N-S) with a maximum depth of 95cm. new south and west walls were constructed. The fourth and last phase of development involved the infilling of this new cold bath and covering of the tiled floor with a layer of black loam with charcoal, this rooms seems to have in the last phase served a domestic function (1)


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

Sources/Archives (1)

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

Finds (2)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (5)

Related Events/Activities (2)

  • Intrusive Event: Excavations in Dover Town centre, Roman military bath house site (EKE15856)
  • Event Boundary: Rescue excavations within Dover Town Centre ahead of development of York Street, Dover (EKE15656)

Record last edited

Aug 27 2019 12:12PM