Monument record MDO18579 - Alington Avenue Roman farm within D-shaped enclosure

Evidence for a Roman farm within the D-shaped enclosure was discovered during excavations at Alington Avenue. A Roman settlement and associated field system comprised a D-shaped enclosure, which appears to be the earliest feature constructed, probably at the beginning of the 2nd century AD. Sometime during the early 2nd century two stone-footed buildings [459] & [2126] were constructed within it. Two further fragments of wall footing [2925] & [1905] suggest that other structures may have been present within the enclosure. A small number of other features were found within the enclosure, which appear to be contemporary with the buildings including pits back-filled with domestic rubbish and a drier in the SW corner [4250]. The D-shaped enclosure was enlarged during the later 2nd century and a possible replacement drier [3754] constructed and the two stone-footed buildings went out of use by the end of this phase in the early-mid 3rd century. In the third phase the enclosure was extended to the south but contained no buildings within it. Several features including building [1737], a later enclosure system and driers were found just outside of the enclosure during this phase and the final phase, likely to be in the 4th century AD.

Found during a series of archaeological evaluations and excavations conducted by Wessex Archaeology at Alington Avenue, Fordington, Dorchester, between 1984-1987. The results of the excavations have been published as a Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society Monograph (DNHAS Monograph 15). The numbers in square brackets below refer to the context and feature numbers used in the published reports (1).

Three buildings with stone footings were revealed; two within the D-shaped enclosure [459] & [2126] and one just outside its eastern side [1737]. In addition there were several short lengths of wall, which may have belonged to other structures. Internal features were rare and there was little evidence for specific function. Furthermore, a series of post-hole structure were revealed within the enclosure with little or no dating evidence. It has been suggested on morphological grounds that they are late or post-Roman in date but it is possible that some may be contemporary with the stone-footed structures.

A Roman settlement and associated field system comprised a D-shaped enclosure, which appears to be the earliest feature constructed, probably at the beginning of the 2nd century AD. Sometime during the early 2nd century two stone-footed buildings [459] & [2126] were constructed within it. Two further fragments of wall footing [2925] & [1905] suggest that other structures may have been present within the enclosure. A small number of other features were found within the enclosure, which appear to be contemporary with the buildings including pits back-filled with domestic rubbish and a drier in the SW corner [4250]. The D-shaped enclosure was enlarged during the later 2nd century and a possible replacement drier [3754] constructed and the two stone-footed buildings went out of use by the end of this phase in the early-mid 3rd century. In the third phase, tentatively dated to the 2nd half of the 3rd century, the enclosure was extended to the south but contained no buildings within it. Building [1737] was constructed just outside the enclosure during this phase. The final phase saw the development of the boundary system on the eastern side of the site, and possibly the abandonment of the D-shaped enclosure. The remodelling of building [1737] may be associated with this phase. Dating evidence for this phase is poor but it is likely to date from 4th century AD.

<1> Davies, S M, Bellamy, P S , Heaton, M J , and Woodward, P J, 2002, Excavations at Alington Avenue, Fordington, Dorchester, Dorset, 1984-87 (Monograph). SDO9565.

<2> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1147772 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Dec 6 2023 4:27PM