DORCHESTER

Below are a few photos of the TTF trip to Dorchester, including my little diversion to Lulworth Cove in the morning before the tour of the town began and a diversion to Maiden Castle afterwards!

ROMAN DITCHES AND BANKS

Dorchester (or it's Roman name Durnovaria) was inhabited by the Iron age tribe of the Durotriges before the Roman invasion in AD43. It appears that the Roman military settled first in a fort thought to be somewhere near Mambury rings which was their ampitheatre before it was handed over to the town when it moved on further north.

MAMBURY RINGS

The Roman military also built an aqueduct which can be traced on Poundbury Hillfort, which provided water to the town feeding places like the public baths in the centre of the town. It seems like that after the army left the local craftsmen could not upkeep the aqueduct and after an atempt to replace it, it fell into disrepair and was eventually abandoned.

ROMAN WATER SYSTEM IN DORCHESTER

When the County Hall was built in the grounds of Collington hall an excavation was done and a substantial town house was found, also stone and timber buildings, a well and possible small scale industry in the area. The town house was well preserved with mosaics and hypocaust. The house was built in stages showing perhaps growth in wealth or change of owner.

TOWN HOUSE MOSAIC AND ROOMS

The town walls were erected at the end of the second century when politcal crisis in Rome caused insecurity in Britian. Only one section remains in Dorchester near the Top of Town.

REMAINS OF ROMAN TOWN WALL

Below is a few photos of my little morning diversion to Lulworth Cove although not archaeogical or historical I have included them as it is a worthwhile place to visit. Also photo's of Maiden Castle.

NEAR LULWORTH COVE AND DURDLE DOOR

Maiden Castle was the Iron Age hill fort of the Durotriges tribe although it's origins were Neolithic the Iron age people expanded the fort and added the spectacular banks and ditches that defended the fort. The fort finally fell to the 2^nd Legion Augusta, under Vespasian, during the Roman invasion in AD43. It seems like after the Roman invasion there was not much activity at the fort apart from a small Roman Temple which was built in the 4th century.

MAIDEN CASTLE (BEING STORMED BY CHRIS M)

ROMAN TEMPLE ON MAIDEN CASTLE

BELOW IS SOME LINKS TO OTHER PHOTO'S OF THE DAY

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/share/welcome?i=EeCM3Dhm0aNnIw&sm=0&sl=0

(Ron Strutt's photo's)

http://uk.f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/unsteddie_eddie@btopenworld.com/my_photos

(W&J + Sporg + Sporglet's photo's)