Monument record MDO18657 - Library Site, Colliton Park, Dorchester; Roman Building 3
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Summary
The remains of the southern end of a stone-footed building were found aligned N-S in the west part of the excavations on the site of the new Dorset County Library, Colliton Park, Dorchester in 1961-63. Building 3 lay on the eastern edge of a large shallow linear cut in the western part of the excavation. Only the southern end of this building was exposed in the excavation trench. It was constructed on mortared flint footings with mortared limestone sleeper walls above. There was a slight suggestion that it had a chalk floor, but, in general, the area was too disturbed to determine the internal arrangements of the building. A gully ran just outside the building on its east side. The dating of this building is uncertain, but it may have been constructed in the 3rd century AD and may have gone out of use in the late 3rd or early 4th century AD.
Map
Type and Period (1)
Full Description
The remains of the southern end of a stone-footed building were found aligned N-S in the west part of the excavations on the site of the new Dorset County Library, Colliton Park, Dorchester in 1961-63 (1) (2). Building 3 lay on the eastern edge of the large shallow linear cut in the western part of the excavation. Only the southern end of this building was exposed in the excavation trench. It measured about 9.5m wide by over 8m long. The footings were composed of mortared flints, above which were mortared limestones in a herringbone pattern, topped by a course of flat-laid limestones. There was a slight suggestion that it had a chalk floor, but, in general, the area was too disturbed to determine the internal arrangements of the building. A gully ran just outside the building on its east side.
The south wall of Building 3 cut the edge of the firing floor of Oven 5 and Building 5 was constructed over its southern end.
The dating of this building is uncertain, but it may have been constructed in the 3rd century AD and may have gone out of use in the late 3rd or early 4th century AD.
Sources/Archives (2)
- <1> SDO9729 Article in serial: Aitken, G and Aitken, N. 1982. 'Excavations on the Library Site, Colliton Park, Dorchester' Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society. 104. 101.
- <2> SDO10071 Article in serial: Draper, J. 1983. 'Some further discussion of the Library Site, Colliton Park, Dorchester' Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society. 105. 158.
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (1)
Related Events/Activities (1)
Location
| Grid reference | Centred SY 68962 90763 (9m by 8m) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | SY69SE |
| Civil Parish | Dorchester; Dorset |
| Unitary Authority | Dorset |
Protected Status/Designation
- None recorded
Other Statuses/References
- Legacy UID: Dorset Sites and Monuments Record: 1 041 766
Record last edited
Jun 30 2014 4:30PM