Monument record TR 34 SW 1573 - Room 12 (cold bath) 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 12 was a small room located on the northern side of room eight, it effectively formed a period three extension of room eight. Its east and west walls abutted the pre-existing buttresses and were about 2.3m in length, and the northern wall was about 4.2m. Most of the internal features in this room had been destroyed by a later pit, but two steps did survive, these had been cut into period one wall on the south side. (location accurate to the nearest 2m based on available information).

Location

Grid reference Centred TR 3186 4144 (4m by 3m) From rectified plan
Map sheet TR34SW
County KENT
District DOVER, KENT
Civil Parish DOVER, DOVER, KENT

Map

Type and Period (3)

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 12 was a small room located on the northern side of room eight, it effectively formed a period three extension of room eight. Its east and west walls abutted the pre-existing buttresses and were about 2.3m in length, and the northern wall was about 4.2m. Most of the internal features in this room had been destroyed by a later pit, but two steps did survive, these had been cut into period one wall on the south side.

The walls were constructed of flint, chalk, greensand lumps and opus signinum, all set in a gritty white mortar, rendered with a thick layer of opus signinum and surviving to a maximum height of 1.1m. The base was formed of large tiles mostly about 50cm squared, these were set in a bed of opus signinum but had been badly robbed. No evidence of a hypocaust was recovered, this was clearly a cold bath. (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 (0)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

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 12:19PM