Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Shapwick 85
Hob Uid: 209645
Location : Dorset Shapwick
Grid Ref : ST9480002300
Summary : The site of a fort at Shapwick. The fort was discovered from an air photograph and is seen on the photograph as a multiple-ditched rectilinear enclosure with straight sides and rounded corners. It is slightly asymmetrical with long sides measuring overall 690ft and 620 ft and with a width of 520 ft, to give an area within the ditches of some 6 acres. The defence system includes three ditches, except on the north-east, where only the two inner ditches appear. It partly overlies a poorly defined ovoid enclosure of about 4 acres. The evidence from pottery picked up on the ground confirms a mid 1st century date for the fort. A polygonal enclosure, of less than 1/2 acre, which adjoins the north-east side of the fort is probably an annexe. The track of the Badbury to Dorchester Roman Road, which crosses the fort, post-dates it.
More information : Roman fort at Shapwick discovered from Boyden air photograph. The fort is situated at ST 948023 and is seen on the photograph as a multiple-ditched rectilinear enclosure with straight sides and rounded corners. It is slightly asymmetrical with long sides measuring overall 690 and 620 ft and with a width of 520 ft to give an area within the ditches of some 6 acres. The defence system includes three ditches, except on the NE, where only the two inner ditches appear. The evidence from pottery picked up on the ground in August 1975 confirms a mid 1st century date for the fort. A polygonal enclosure, of under 1/2 acre, which adjoins the NE side of the fort is probably an annexe. The track of the Badbury to Dorchester Roman Road (RR 4c), which crosses the fort, post-dates it. (1-3) ST 948023. Probable Roman fort, area about 3ha. Playing card shape, rounded corners, triple ditched but with no visible entrances or recognisably Roman interior works; cut diagonally by Roman road. Partly overlies poorly defined ovoid enclosure of about 4 acres. (4-5)

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Source Number : 1
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Page(s) : 280-3
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Vol(s) : 7, 1976

Source Number : 2
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Source details : AP (J Boyden June 1975)
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Source Number : 3
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Source details : DOE (HHR) Rec Form 5 March 1977 plan
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Source Number : 4
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Source details : Shapwick 85
Page(s) : 29
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Source Number : 4a
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Source details : AP Ref: NMR OAPs ST 9402/4-8
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Source Number : 5
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Source details : Shapwick 85
Page(s) : 44
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Plates : 16
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Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Prehistoric
Display Date : Prehistoric
Monument End Date : 43
Monument Start Date : -500000
Monument Type : Oval Enclosure
Evidence : Cropmark

Monument Period Name : Roman
Display Date : Roman
Monument End Date : 410
Monument Start Date : 43
Monument Type : Fort
Evidence : Cropmark, Find

Components and Objects:

Period : Roman
Component Monument Type : Fort
Object Type : VESSEL
Object Material : Pottery

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : DO 833
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : ST 90 SW 33
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

Associated Monuments :
Relationship type : General association

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY
Start Date : 1993-01-01
End Date : 1993-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EVALUATION
Start Date : 1995-01-01
End Date : 1995-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY
Start Date : 1996-01-01
End Date : 1996-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY
Start Date : 1998-01-01
End Date : 1999-12-31