Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Durovernum Cantiacorum
Hob Uid: 464678
Location : Kent Canterbury Non Civil Parish
Grid Ref : TR1480057600
Summary : The Roman town at Canterbury. From the late 2nd Century, Durovernum Cantiacorum was the civitas capital of Kent. The settlement developed soon after AD43 and the Roman bridgehead at Richborough would have been the main military base. There is no evidence for an established military presence in Canterbury itself.A gradual Romanisation of the Iron Age settlement is likely to have occurred with the eventual Roman town laid out in a grid with buildings, baths and a late 1st century theatre. Substantial flint and tile foundations of the theatre with opus signinum floors were discovered, with the theatre rebuilt on a larger scale so that by the beginning of the 3rd century it was four storeys high, and semi-circular with a diameter of 70 metres. In St. Margaret's Street are the visible remains of the 2nd century bath complex: there is evidence of the furnace (praefurnium), caldarium, tepidarium and frigidarium. The baths may have continued under the site of the present day church of St. Margaret.Llittle of the insulae within the town have been excavated. The foundations of several town houses of the 'winged corridor' type have been found, one of which is underneath the Canterbury Museum in Butchery Lane. The building, dating from the 1st century, was built of masonry and has been altered and reconstructed with a hypocaust system, tessellated floors and mosaics. The exact positions of the forum or basilica are not known. The mediaeval town wall follows the route of the 3rd century Roman boundary wall, and the gates are still visible.
More information : [TR 148576] DVROVERNVM CANTIACORVM Canterbury (Cantonal Capital). (1) Latin forms for Canterbury:- Ravenna List DURAOVERNO CANTIAGORUM (The `a' is probably intrusive, the result of copying the Greek form). Antonine Itinerary DURORVERNO, DURARVERNO, DURARVENNO. Peutinger Map DUROAVERUS. Meaning: The fort among the alders. (2) DUROVERUM CANTIACORUM: excavated 1944-57 by the Canterbury Excavation Committee, mainly under the direction of SS Frere, the results of which are largely unpublished. For course of city wall, sites of public buildings and major finds etc (based mainly on Frere's booklet) see Map Diagram. (3) Name `DVROVERNVM CANTIACORVM' accepted for 4th edition RB Map. (4) Additional bibliography. (5-27)

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Source Number : 1
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Source details : OS Ro Brit Map 1956 29
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Source Number : 2
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Source details : Arch 93 1949 32 (IA Richmond and OGS Crawford)
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Source Number : 11
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Source details : JRS 50 1960 236
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Source Number : 12
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Source details : Arch Cant 15 1883 338-350 (S Robertson)
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Source Number : 13
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Source details : JRS 48 1958 149
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Source Number : 14
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Source details : JRS 40 1950-51 113
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Source Number : 15
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Source details : JRS 43 1953 127-128
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Source Number : 16
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Source details : JRS 19 1929 210
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Source Number : 17
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Source details : Arch Cant 76 1961 lviii (F Jenkins)
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Source Number : 18
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Source details : CBA Res Rep 48 Arch in Kent to AD1500 1982 51-54 (PE Leach)
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Source Number : 19
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Source details : The Towns of Roman Britain 1975 19 20 178-195 Figs 39 40 41 42 pls 38 39 40 420 (J Wacher)
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Source Number : 20
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Source details : South-East England 1970 178-79 197 (R Jessup)
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Source Number : 3
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Source details : F1 CFW 23.02.65
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Source Number : 21
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Source details : Studies in the Romano-British villa 1978 19 26 (M Todd)
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Source Number : 22
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Source details : The Roman Forts of the Saxon Shore 1976 100-101 (S Johnson)
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Source Number : 23
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Source details : Arch Cant 92 1976 241-244 (T Tatton-Brown)
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Source Number : 24
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Source details : BAR 126 Romano British Urban Defences 1984 6 7 13 illust 15 17 21 37 39 40 71 75 illust 77 143-4 182 198 199 (J Crickmore)
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Source Number : 25
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Source details : The Place Names of Roman Britain 1979 353-354 (ALF Rivet and C Smith)
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Source Number : 26
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Source details : Med Arch 16 1972 156 (LE Webster and J Cherry)
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Source Number : 27
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Source details : Cant Arch Trust Topo maps of Canterbury AD 400 1982
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Source Number : 4
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Source details : The Place - Names of Ro Brit 1979 353-4 (ALF Rivet and C Smith)
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Source Number : 5
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Source details : JRS 46 1956 144-143 Arch Cant 86 1971 232-33 239-240 (F Jenkins)
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Source Number : 6
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Source details : CBA Cal Ex 1967 7 (J Williams)
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Source Number : 7
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Source details : Brit 1 1970 304 (DR Wilson and RP Wright)
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Source Number : 8
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Source details : Brit 3 1972 351 (DR Wilson)
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Source Number : 9
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Source details : Med Arch 13 1969 265 (DM Wilson and DG Hurst)
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Source Number : 10
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Source details : JRS 35 1945 88-90
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Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Roman
Display Date : Roman
Monument End Date : 410
Monument Start Date : 43
Monument Type : Town, Civitas Capital
Evidence : Sub Surface Deposit

Components and Objects:

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : KE 89
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : KE 325
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : KE 350
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : TR 15 NW 1
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

Associated Monuments :
Relationship type :

Related Activities :

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Activity type : EXCAVATION
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Historic England Research Records

Durovernum Cantiacorum