Monument record TR 34 SW 1615 - Part of the North Gatehouse of CLBR fort II (B13) located at the Burial Ground site, Dover

Summary

During extensive rescue excavations undertaken across Dover’s Town centre by Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit, substantial remains of the Classis Britannica fort were uncovered and recorded. Excavations in an area covering most of the disused burial ground of St. Martin-Le-Grand's church (Burial Ground site) were undertaken in 1970, during these excavations the west guard room of the northern gate house of the CLBR fort was uncovered. (location accurate to the nearest 2m based on available information)

Location

Grid reference Centred TR 3183 4139 (7m by 4m) (6 map features)
Map sheet TR34SW
County KENT
District DOVER, KENT
Civil Parish DOVER, DOVER, KENT

Map

Type and Period (3)

Full Description

(summarised from publication)

During extensive rescue excavations undertaken across Dovers Town centre by Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit, sections of the defensive ditch and berm were located on all four sides of the fort. During excavations in an area covering most of the disused burial ground of St. Martin-Le-Grand's church (Burial Ground site) the west guard room of the northern gate house of the CLBR fort was uncovered.

It was constructed of tufa blocks set in a white tufa mortar, 56cm wide. The original east-west width of this guard chamber was 2.12m, the original north-south width is uncertain due to the replacement of both the north and south walls. A small pear shaped oven was apparent at the north end of the guard room, this was filled with ash and sealed by bands of clay which formed the floor of the period 1 guard room. A large oval cess pit cut a substantial part of the guard chamber, this was filled with material datable to the second half of the second century. This pit was sealed by a new floor which was laid at the same time the new north and south walls were erected. These new walls gave new internal dimensions to the guardhouse of 2.6m by 2.12m. The new floor consisted of a mortar spread which was eventually covered by 2m of mixed black-brown loam and human skeletal material which represents the use of the site as a burial ground in the post medieval period. (1)


<1> Philp, B. J., 1981, The Excavation of the Roman Forts of the Classis Britannica at Dover 1970-1977 (Monograph). SKE7863.

Sources/Archives (1)

  • <1> Monograph: Philp, B. J.. 1981. The Excavation of the Roman Forts of the Classis Britannica at Dover 1970-1977.

Finds (6)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Events/Activities (2)

  • Intrusive Event: Rescue Excavations Dover Town Centre, Burial Ground Site (Ref: EI 15378) (EKE4762)
  • Event Boundary: Rescue excavations within Dover Town Centre ahead of development of York Street, Dover (EKE15656)

Record last edited

Aug 23 2019 4:15PM