Monument record TR 34 SW 85 - The Roman (3rd century) Painted House (C9), Dover

Summary

The 'Painted House' is the remains of a Roman town house, constructed c. AD 200 and noted for its wall paintings. Its position just outside the Classis Britannica fort suggests that it served as the private dwelling of a leading naval or government official or as a mansio for important travellers. It was discovered during rescue excavations by the Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit in the 1970s. These excavations revealed a complex of at least six rooms and a passage. It was built on an earlier Roman building, probably mid-2nd century, of at least three rooms. This was largely demolished during the construction of the 'Painted House'. Further structures were also noted during the excavation of this structure, most of which are earlier in date and possibly relate to the extra mural settlement just outside of the CLBR II Fort. Of the six rooms the most complete was room 2 with internal walls surviving to 6 feet in height. These had been decorated with a green dado with a central zone of eighteen rectangular panels above. Similar, but more fragmentary, examples were found in the other rooms. The passage, which flanked rooms 1, 2 and 3, also had traces of a geometric pattern on one wall. Beneath the opus signinum floors a hypocaust was found intact. It appears to have heated all but rooms 4 and 6, while room 1 remained in use during the construction of the major military fort in AD. 270 rooms 2 and 3 were buried beneath the rampart and 4, 5 and 6 destroyed by the wall and ditch. It is possible that the building formed part of the east-west range of a much larger structure. Another building, located to the east of the ‘Painted House’ appears to be contemporary with it, and it is likely that this eastern building formed part of an integral eastern section of a larger building which included the painted house. (location accurate to the nearest 2m based on available information)

Location

Grid reference Centred TR 3184 4145 (23m by 18m) From rectified plan
Map sheet TR34SW
County KENT
District DOVER, KENT
Civil Parish DOVER, DOVER, KENT

Map

Type and Period (2)

Full Description

<1> Brian and Edna Philp, 1974, CIB: Rescue Excavations in Kent 1972-1974: The Town Centre Excavation in Dover (Article in serial). SKE31869.

<2> B Philp, M Wheeler, Prof. Toynbee, 1972, Kent Archaeological Review: Roman Dover. Vol. 29, Kent Arch Rev 29 1972 259 260 (Sir M Wheeler) 261 262 (B Philp) 262-264 (J Toynbee) (Article in serial). SKE31847.

<3> Philp, B, 1989, The Roman House with Bacchic Murals at Dover (Monograph). SKE24004.

<4> John Willson, 1977, Kent Archaeological Review: 'The Painted House' Underfloor Heating System. Vol. 47 (Article in serial). SKE31857.

<5> Brian Philp, 1983, Kent Archaeological Review: Major Roman Building Discovered at Dover Vol. 74, Kent Arch Review 74 1983 77 (Article in serial). SKE31866.

<6> English Heritage, Register of Scheduled Monuments (Scheduling record). SKE16191.

<7> Historic England, National Heritage List for England (Index). SKE29372.

<8> Maritime Archaeology, 2008, Dover Terminal 2 EIA: Historic Environment Baseline Report Volume 1 (Unpublished document). SKE31717.

Sources/Archives (8)

  • <1> Article in serial: Brian and Edna Philp. 1974. CIB: Rescue Excavations in Kent 1972-1974: The Town Centre Excavation in Dover. pp. 12-13.
  • <2> Article in serial: B Philp, M Wheeler, Prof. Toynbee. 1972. Kent Archaeological Review: Roman Dover. Vol. 29. Vol. 29. pp. 259-264. Kent Arch Rev 29 1972 259 260 (Sir M Wheeler) 261 262 (B Philp) 262-264 (J Toynbee).
  • <3> Monograph: Philp, B. 1989. The Roman House with Bacchic Murals at Dover.
  • <4> Article in serial: John Willson. 1977. Kent Archaeological Review: 'The Painted House' Underfloor Heating System. Vol. 47. Vol. 47. pp. 165-169.
  • <5> Article in serial: Brian Philp. 1983. Kent Archaeological Review: Major Roman Building Discovered at Dover Vol. 74. Vol 74. pp. 77. Kent Arch Review 74 1983 77.
  • <6> Scheduling record: English Heritage. Register of Scheduled Monuments.
  • <7> Index: Historic England. National Heritage List for England.
  • <8> Unpublished document: Maritime Archaeology. 2008. Dover Terminal 2 EIA: Historic Environment Baseline Report Volume 1.

Finds (1)

Protected Status/Designation

Related Monuments/Buildings (8)

Related Events/Activities (2)

  • Intrusive Event: Rescue Excavation Dover Town Centre, Painted House and Bingo Hall Sites (EKE4658)
  • Event Boundary: Rescue excavations within Dover Town Centre ahead of development of York Street, Dover (EKE15656)

Related Thematic Articles (1)

Record last edited

Mar 30 2023 12:37PM