Monument record MDO19383 - Dorchester Prison Lodge, North Square, Dorchester; Roman mosaic

The fragmentary remains of a Roman tessellated floor were found during the construction of the new lodge to the prison off North Square, Dorchester. Fragments of two strands of guilloche in dark grey, white and red with a coarse red border were recovered. These were lifted and reset, part in the former prison governor's hall (now lost) and part in the Dorset County Museum. No record of any associated building remains were made and it is unclear whether these fragments were found in situ. It is possible that they form part of the same Roman building as found in the Prison burial ground, just to the northwest in 1854.

The fragmentary remains of a Roman tessellated floor were found during the construction of the new lodge to the prison off North Square (1) (2) (3). Fragments of two strands of guilloche in dark grey, white and red with a coarse red border were recovered (4). These were lifted and reset, part in the former prison governor's hall (now lost) and part in the Dorset County Museum (4). No record of any associated building remains were made and it is unclear whether these fragments were found in situ. It is possible that they form part of the same Roman building as found in the Prison burial ground, just to the northwest, in 1854.

<1> Anon, 1854, 'Roman Antiquities' Dorset County Chronicle, 20 (Article in serial). SDO10193.

<2> Anon, 1858, 'The Roman Tessellated Pavement' Dorset County Chronicle, 144 (Article in serial). SDO10190.

<3> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 568-9, Dorchester 209b (Monograph). SDO150.

<4> Cosh, S R, and Neal, D S, 2005, Roman Mosaics of Britain. Volume II South-west Britain, 109 (Monograph). SDO10182.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2024 7:39PM