Monument record MDO5495 - Roman building at Holwell, Cranborne

Evidence of at least one Roman building situated on low ground near the river Crane below Jordan Hill was found in 1867. Wake Smart describes two areas of red tesselated pavement, and various finds of high quality pottery, including Samian ware, and small metal objects. This suggests a building of some status, possibly a villa, Wake Smart speculates that it may be a shrine as it is close to a spring.

<1> Royal Archaeological Institute, 1887, Archaeological Journal XLIV, 395-6 (Serial). SDO15380.

‘The Crane stream wends its way through a vale below Cranborne, known as the Tything of Holwell. At the distance of one mile and a half I have had the knowledge for many years of a spot not generally known, where I have discovered indubitable evidence of Roman building and habitation. In the road-side bank I have traced two distinct lines of red brick tesserae, cubes of about an inch square, in lengths of seven and eight feet. I expected to find an extension of these floors in the meadow on the other side, but was disappointed, and came to the conclusion that the rooms were destroyed when the parish road was made. I have found on digging, fragments of Roman ware from the figured Samian to the ordinary black ware, and other kinds less common. I have also found several minor articles of bronze, and a small brass coin of the Constantines. This spot is in contiguity with a pond in which rises a never-failing spring of the purest water, which flows into the neighbouring stream. I have indulged in the speculation of this having been in Roman times a spring consecrated to some forgotten " Dea Fontis," and celebrated for its healing property ; a reputation which it may have retained during the Saxon era, and thus becoming a Holy Well, whose special virtues have been long forgotten, whilst the name is still remembered in the Plolwell of a later age.’

<2> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1963 (Map). SWX1540.

(SU 07291262) ROMAN BUILDING (R) (site of) (NAT)

<3> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1975, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume V (East), 15 (Monograph). SDO129.

'(33) Roman building (07291262), found in 1867, occupied a site at Holwell, below Jordan Hill, on low ground immediately E. of the R. Crane. Two areas of red tessellated pavement were traced. Finds included samian ware, New Forest and other coarse pottery and a Constantinian coin; some of these are in D.C.M. (Arch. J., XLIV (1887), 395-6; Hutchins III, 388).'

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 213683 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 19 2022 1:24PM