EDO4434 - Colliton Park, Dorchester; excavations 1937 to 1939

In anticipation of the building of the new County Hall in Colliton Park, emergency excavations were carried out by the DNHAS in 1937 and 1938. The third season's work had barely started when the outbreak of war brought all excavation to a standstill. The first trial trench was cut on 20th May 1937 and workmen and staff were fully employed throughout the autumn and winter. The work was begun in the area scheduled for the construction of County Hall but then moved into the NW corner of Colliton park in order to clear the area for the dumping of spoil generated through the excavation. It was at this point that Building I (the Roman Town House) was discovered. Building I was completely excavated in season 1and parts of five others exposed (2). In season 2 work continued on exposing the complex of Roman buildings; Building I: an extensive pit complex was found to the west of Room 18, including a possible lime kiln. Building II: small building of two rooms. Building III: a range of three rooms with corridor, with an oven in Room 1, two pits in Room 2 and numerous late pits in Room 2 and the corridor, including one with decorated glass bowl. Building IIIa: small building with chalk floor and oven. Several pits and a well in the vicinity. Building IV: small building of three rooms and central porch. Building V: fragmentary building remains. Building VI: fragmentary building remains with two tessellated floors. BuildingVII: fragmentary remains, may not have been a roofed structure. A blacksmith’s hearth was found just north of Building III. Three cuttings through rampart. Line of one street investigated. Large water conduit discovered beneath road in some cuttings (3).