EDO4450 - Dorchester Roman Aqueduct; excavation 1901

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Location

Grid reference Centred SY 66550 92155 (1940m by 1470m) (3 map features)
Map sheet SY69SE
Civil Parish Bradford Peverell; Dorset
Civil Parish Dorchester; Dorset
Unitary Authority Dorset

Technique(s)

Organisation

Not recorded.

Date

1901

Description

The Dorchester Roman Aqueduct was sectioned at three points by W. Miles Barnes in order to test the hypothesis put forward by Major Coates that this earthwork represented a Roman water supply to the Town of Durnovaria [2]. Three Cuttings were located at Bradford Peverell, Combe Bottom and Fordington Bottom. The aqueduct was shown to be cut in to the solid chalk to a depth of 2 feet 6 inches to 2 feet 9 inches. It had a flat base and near vertical sides [2]. A field survey also showed that the gradient of the aqueduct was very low.

Sources/Archives (3)

  • <1> Monograph: Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England). 1970. An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3. 588, no. 227a.
  • <2> Article in serial: Miles Barnes, W. 1901. Some Notes on Major Coates’ discovery of the ancient water supply of Dorchester. Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Field Club. 22. 90.
  • <3> Digital archive: Historic England. NRHE Excavation Index. 650966.

Map

Child/subsequent Site Events/Activities (3)

  • Dorchester Roman Aqueduct, cutting c.1901
  • Dorchester Roman Aqueduct, cutting B, 1901.
  • Dorchester Roman Aqueduct, cutting A, 1901. (Ref: NMR UID: 650966)

Record last edited

Jul 19 2021 3:56PM

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