Monument record MDO18151 - Greyhound Yard, Roman enclosure 2500

Enclosure 2500 was a stone-walled enclosure in the southern half of the central area of the Greyhound Yard insula, found during the 1984 excavations at Greyhound Yard. It was a replacement for the earlier enclosures 5519 and 5538 and closely followed their line and probably dates from the early 4th century. Building 3504 was on the southeast corner of the enclosure and may have been related to it. Two groups of shallow pits of late 3rd-4th century date were found in the southwest part of the enclosure. The eastern end of this enclosure may have been destroyed or altered following the construction of Buildings 5433 and 2700 to the east in the later 4th century.

Found during the excavations carried out by Wessex Archaeology in 1984 prior to the redevelopment of the area of the former Greyhound Yard. (1) The results of the excavation were published together with the results of the adjacent Old Methodist Chapel excavations. (2) The numbers in square brackets below are context and feature numbers used in the published report (2).

A large rectilinear stone walled enclosure in the southern half of the central area of the Greyhound Yard insula, corresponding to the position of the earlier enclosures 5519 and 5538. Parts of three walls defining its north, south and east sides were found. The north wall [1381] had a footing of rammed chalk 0.35m deep and comprised coursed mortared flint. The south wall was similar, but more substantial structure. There was a clear kink in this wall reflecting the step in alignment between the earlier enclosures 5519 and 5538. The eastern end of the south wall may have joined the SW corner of Building 3504, but the junction had been destroyed by later activity. The east wall was on roughly the same line as the earlier enclosure 5519 and was extensively truncated but it appeared to be similar in construction to the other walls. The relationship between this wall and Building 3504 was not preserved. The western end of this enclosure lay beyond the excavated area.

Within the enclosure were two groups of pits which contained pottery dated to the late 3rd-4th century. Pits [1580], 3007], and [3010] lay in the southwestern part of the enclosure. Another larger group of pits [1133], [3304-3311], [1708], [1731], [1721], [1112], and [1503] lay slightly to the west. All the pits in these two groups were shallow rounded features filled with dark soil.

This enclosure was probably constructed in the early 4th century. Its eastern side may have been demolished or altered after the construction of Building 5433 and the extension to Building 2700 in the later 4th century

Trust for Wessex Archaeology, 1983, Dorchester, Durnovaria: Excavations in the town centre at Greyhound Yard, and the Old Methodist Chapel (1982-1984): Interim and introductory notes to the current excavations (Unpublished document). SDO9435.

Wessex Archaeology, 1984, Greyhound Yard, Dorchester excavation archive (Excavation archive). SDO9456.

<1> Woodward, P J , Davies, S M , and Graham, A H, 1984, Excavations at the Greyhound Yard Car Park, Dorchester, 1984, 99-106 (Article in serial). SDO9437.

<2> Woodward, P J , Davies, S M , and Graham, A H, 1993, Excavations at the Old Methodist Chapel and Greyhound Yard, Dorchester, 1981-1984, 60 (Monograph). SDO9411.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2024 7:27PM