EDO4387 - Roman Rampart, The Grove, Dorchester; watching brief 1962

The extension of car-parking facilities between Colliton Walk and the West Drive of County Hall resulted in the levelling of the rear crest of the Roman Town rampart behind the park wall and the laying of a gravelled hard standing. Starting in 1961, this work was continued in 1962 from the point opposite the west wing of County Hall southwards to within about 80 yards of the entrance to Colliton Park, or approximately opposite the County Hall frontage. At the same time the dumping of excavated soil was continued to cover the remaining 25 yards of the unlevelled crest at the northern end of the western rampart. At the south end of the levelled portion, the upper chalk rubble of the rampart could be seen to a depth of about 4ft, with 2ft of soil overburden, but, with the gradual fall in ground level northwards, little but the overburden could be seen. No sherds or other dating material were found in the make-up while examining the section. (mapped from descriptive text)