Monument record MDO6880 - Roman road remains?, Coronation Room, Blandford Road, Hamworthy, Poole

An unconfirmed report that Roman road gravels were found during the construction of the Coronation Room, Blandford Road, Hamworthy in the 1920s. Subsequent archaeological investigation in 1982 did not reveal any trace of a Roman road, casting doubt on this identification.

H P Smith reported that he was "informed on good authority, however, that unmistakable traces of a metalled track were encountered when the coronation room (N) was built". (1) He interpreted this as part of a branch of the Roman road between Hamworthy and Badbury Rings which continued to the south shore of the Hamworthy peninsula (Route MNO). (1)

Keith Jarvis has cast doubt on this identification of Roman road gravels based on subsequent investigations either side of the former Coronation Room in 1982, where no trace of Roman road metalling was found and suggests this part of the road (which H P Smith labelled MNO) may not actually exist. (2)

<1> Smith, H P, 1932, The Hamworthy Section of the Branch Roman Road from Badbury Rings to Poole Harbour, 13 (Article in serial). SWX3198.

<2> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1983, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1982, 181-182 (Serial). SDO82.

Record last edited

Dec 2 2019 2:19PM