Appendix 1: Theme 3.1 – the Roman Gateway Dover District Heritage Strategy
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Appendix 1: Theme 3.1 – The Roman Gateway Dover District Heritage Strategy 1 Wantsum Lydden Valley Cover The Eastern Pharos at Dover Figure 1 Distribution of all Roman activity within Dover District recorded on the Kent Historic Environment Record late summer of 55 BC he left Boulogne with a Theme 3.1 – force of two legions arriving initially off DVBRIS (Dover) intent on landing within that natural harbour. Seeing the massed forces of The Roman the Britons on the overlooking cliffs, the Roman expedition diverted to an open beach Gateway: on the east coast of Kent, generally thought to be around Deal or Walmer. The town of Deal and Walmer can therefore lay claim to Roman being the location of the first recorded major event in British history. invasion, ports 3.4 Caesar’s landing was opposed by the Britons but they were eventually driven back, and defences a camp established at the beachhead and ambassadors and hostages received. The Summary British weather and tides then took a hand, storms preventing the landing of Caesar’s 3.1 Roman remains can be seen in many supporting cavalry and wrecking their places across the country, but it is only in beached fleet. The Britons renewed their Dover District that the complete story of attack on the Roman camp but were Roman Britain can be experienced; from the eventually driven off once again. Caesar first expeditions of Caesar in 55 BC to the realised he could not hold out over winter withdrawal of the last vestiges of Roman and with his fleet repaired as best he could, administration in circa AD 410. It is not he returned to Gaul. surprising then that the District contains some of the country’s finest Roman remains, 3.5 The next year Caesar returned better from outstanding buried archaeology, to the prepared with a force of five legions tallest upstanding Roman building surviving in supported by cavalry. He landed in the same Britain. region as before, this time unopposed and marched inland to defeat the Britons in the Introduction Canterbury area. A storm again wrecked part of Caesar’s fleet and he was forced to march Caesar’s Expeditions of 55 and 54 BC back to the coast and set about their repair, 3.2 The growing influence and expansion of beaching the ships and building a fortified Rome arrived on the doorstep of Kent in the camp to protect the work. Caesar returned first century BC. Trading contact between to his campaign, defeating the massed Britons Britain and the continent and in particular again near Canterbury and pursued them to Gaul was well established. East Kent with its the north banks of the Thames. Despite a natural anchorages and harbours in the diversionary attack on his beach head, Caesar Wantsum and Dover would have been defeated and forced the surrender of particularly important in receiving this trade. Cassivellaunus the Briton leader and accepted hostages and promise of tribute. He returned 3.3 Claiming that the Britons had to Gaul with his entire army. supported the Gauls against him in his conquest of that country, Caesar made The Claudian Invasion of AD 43 preparations for expeditions to Britain. In the 3.6 Following Caesar’s campaigns, Britain Dover District Heritage Strategy 2 Britons were pushed back and pursued across the Thames before Claudius himself arrived for the final push on the Catuvellauni capital of CAMVLODVNVM (Colchester) and the surrender of the British in the south-east. The Gateway to the Province 3.9 The subsequent centuries, as Britain came mostly under Roman rule, saw the growth of Richborough (RVTVPIAE) and Dover (PORTVS DVBRIS) as the major ports of entry to the province at the coastal end of the Roman road network that extended into London (LONDINIVM) and the province. Richborough enjoyed diplomatic and trading links with Rome, with tribute and hostages ensuring no 3.10 Richborough, initially an important direct military action. By AD 43 the political supply base for the conquest, saw the situation was in ferment and Claudius development of streets and timber buildings mounted an invasion, seemingly, to restore on the site of the early beachhead and the Verica, an exiled king of the Atrebates. Four construction of a possible mansio, a hostel to legions and a similar number of auxiliaries provide bed and board to those on imperial under Aulus Plautius crossed the channel to business. A great monument, a quadrifons begin the conquest of Britain. arch, was constructed by Domitian around AD 85, probably to celebrate the completion 3.7 There is much debate about where the of the conquest of the island by Agricola. Its invasion force landed. Richborough (Roman construction coincided with a boom through RVTVPIAE) with the sheltered anchorage of the Wantsum Sea Channel is generally 3 thought to be the location though alternative scenarios have proposed a site on the Solent. The case for Richborough as the prime site of the invasion is strong, though given the size of the force assembled multiple locations are possible. Factors in Richborough’s favour were the ease of the sea crossing from Gaul, the presence of the Wantsum anchorage, the subsequent development of a major entry port and its celebratory monument and the archaeological evidence. Excavations at the site have recorded a double ditch and bank of Claudian date, which is considered to be a beachhead defence. 3.8 Plautius and his legions marched inland to meet and defeat the British forces at a river crossing thought to be the Medway. The Figure 2 Richborough Castle Aerial View showing the earlier 3rd century fort within the upstanding remains of the larger late 3rd century Saxon Short Fort. Figure 3 Richborough forts and vicus revealed through geophysics survey the second century as stone buildings were of the District as the only significant breach constructed, roads re-laid and the port and in the world famous white chalk cliffs, its associated settlement (vicus) flourished. strategically located at the narrowest point of the present English Channel. The mouth of 3.11 The port declined in the third century the river, sheltered beneath the high valley possibly due to competition from other ports sides would have provided a safe haven for such as Dover. The military increased their boats and ships in the Channel. Its proximity presence and fortified the monumental arch, to the continent would have been significant possibly taking advantage of its height as a for its prominence in cross-Channel travel look out. The monument was eventually and international exchange from earliest levelled to make way for a Saxon Shore Fort times and the discovery of the Dover Bronze built by the end of the third century and Age Boat in the early sediments of the river which continued into use as a base for the and the Langdon Wreck outside the river Legio II Augusta until their withdrawal to Gaul mouth underline this. While there is evidence in AD 406. Coin evidence shows that of prehistoric activity and some occupation in Richborough was one of the last places in the Dour valley, the first substantial evidence Britain to be supplied with Roman coinage. comes in the Iron Age with occupation deposits reported from Castle Hill and the Dover town centre. There is suggestion that a 3.12 The town and port of Dover owes its hillfort lay on Castle Hill but this has so far existence to the River Dour in whose valley not been proven. it lies. The Dour originally a small chalk The Romans took advantage of the stream emerging from the North Downs has 3.13 sheltered estuary to create their important over time cut a steep sided valley through the port of Dubris one of the most important chalk bedrock to emerge on the south coast 4 Figure 4 Key features of Roman Dover Dover District Heritage Strategy 5 wall and at least three barrack blocks, the fort appears to have not been completed before a new fort was started on the site around AD 130. This new fort, which extended over an area of about 1.05 hectares, suggesting a substantial military presence, lasted until around the early part of the third century. Association with tiles stamped Classis Britannica has been taken as evidence that the fort served as a fleet base. While large, it may not have been of sufficient size to be the principle base of the Roman fleet which is thought to be at Boulogne, but was certainly an important base and possibly started as a supply base to replace that at Richborough. 3.16 The settlement extended around the fort to cover an area of approximately 5 hectares and included buildings of considerable quality. A large bathhouse, entry points to the Province and a base of constructed around AD 140-160, serving the the Classis Britannica, the Roman naval fleet military and civilian populations of Dover has based in the Channel. Extensive been found to the north of the fort. archaeological work, primarily by Brian Philp Immediately north of the baths a complex of and the Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit has buildings includes exceptionally well- provided much information on the preserved painted wall murals interpreted as development of the Roman harbour, vicus the remains of a mansio. These remains have (extramural settlement) and the fortifications been saved and are on display as the famous at Dover though the matter is complex and a Dover ‘Painted House’. great deal more remains to be learnt about Roman Dover. 3.17 The harbour itself lay within the mouth of the Dour estuary. Harbour works included 3.14 Little is known about the Roman use of a substantial mole, which while protecting the the Dour estuary until the second half of the sheltering vessels from the channel elements, first century AD when a Roman settlement probably also accelerated sedimentation of seems to have been established on the western bank and a harbour established, 6 probably in the latter part of the first century.