Monument record MDO18600 - Colliton Park, Dorchester; Roman Street

The course of a Roman road aligned roughly N-S was exposed in the southern part of Colliton Park during excavations in 1937-1938. The road was not well constructed, but two periods of flint metalling were recognised. The road crossed the 4th century backfilling of the robber trench of a disused water conduit. Two late Roman buildings (V and VI) impinged on the edge of the road and the later metalling was much narrower between these buildings. The road was probably constructed in the late 1st or early 2nd century, but no dating evidence for initial construction was found. Only three of the buildings in this area appear to be aligned on the road (Colliton Park Buildings II, V, VII), suggesting that it was probably not a major feature used in the laying out of this part of the town. No dating evidence is known for the period of disuse of this road, but is probably late 4th century or later.

The course of a Roman road aligned roughly N-S was exposed in a number of cuttings during excavations in Colliton Park in 1937-1938. Due to the outbreak of World War II, the excavations were never completed or written up. The following account is based on the interim reports (1) (2) and the Royal Commission Inventory entry (3). The road was traced for about 79m across the southern part of Colliton Park, but no trace was picked up in the northern part. The complete road surface did not survive in any of the cuttings across it. It was about 4.5m wide and comprised a layer of flints and small stones laid directly on the natural chalk or over fillings of earlier features. A later metalling of similar character was found on top, separated by a layer of soil. To the south, the street had only a single metalling and it crossed the backfilling of the robber trench of a disused water conduit. Two late Roman buildings (V and VI) impinged on the edge of the road and the later metalling was much narrower between these buildings. The date of construction of the road is not clear from the 1930s excavation, but excavation of the street further north in 1988 suggested it was constructed in the late 1st or early 2nd century (4). The road was built over the backfill of the conduit, which apparently contained 4th century AD sherds, suggesting that in this part it must have been remade in the 4th century. Only three of the buildings in this area appear to be aligned on this road (Buildings II, V, VII), suggesting that it was probably not a major feature used in the laying out of this part of the town. (The majority of buildings in Colliton Park appear to have been set out using the alignment of the defences instead.) No dating evidence is known for the period of disuse of this road.

Record last edited

Dec 7 2023 10:15AM