Jordan Hill Roman Temple
Jordan Hill Temple
A view of Jordan Hill Roman Temple
Jordan Hill Roman Temple is located in Dorset
Jordan Hill Roman Temple
Map showing the location of Jordan Hill Roman Temple in Dorset.
LocationPreston, Weymouth, Dorset
Coordinates50°38′15″N 2°25′38″W / 50.637547°N 2.4271160°W / 50.637547; -2.4271160
TypeRomano-Celtic temple
AreaCella: 6.8 m2 (73 sq ft)
Temenos: 84 m2 (900 sq ft)
History
FoundedAD 69–79
Abandoned350–400
CulturesRomano-British
ManagementEnglish Heritage

Jordan Hill Roman Temple is a Romano-Celtic temple and Roman ruin situated on Jordan Hill above Bowleaze Cove in the eastern suburbs of Weymouth in Dorset, England. Original amateur archaeological excavations on the site were carried out by J. Medhurst in 1843-6. These were followed by excavations by C.D. Drew and C.S. Prideaux during 1931-32 suggesting that the site was in operation between c. AD 69–79 to the late 4th century. Some of the finds from the excavations in the 1930s are in the Dorset Museum and the British Museum. There are other Roman sites nearby including Preston Roman Villa to the north west.[1]

Temple

This is a Romano-British type temple,[2] with a square-plan building situated within a courtyard or precinct. The floorplan of the temple measured 6.8 square metres (73 sq ft). The surrounding precinct measured 84 square metres (900 sq ft) and contained numerous deposits of animal bones, ceramics, and coins.[3] The site may also have served as a late 4th-century signal station.[3] The temple does not have an ambulatory but this is probably due to stone robbing.[4] The site also includes a cemetery containing both cremations and inhumations.[5]

Preservation and public access

The site was entrusted into the care of the State in 1933 initially cared for by the Ministry of Works and now in the guardianship of English Heritage who open it to the public with free access. The site was designated a Scheduled Monument in 1981.[6][7][8] There are views from the site across Bowleaze Cove.[9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Preston Roman villa, Non Civil Parish - 1002704 | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  2. ↑ Lewis, M.J.T. 1966. Temples of Roman Britain. Cambridge: University Press
  3. 1 2 "PastScape - Jordan Hill Roman Temple". PastScape (English Heritage). 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
  4. ↑ "Shrines (Roman and Post-Roman), Introductions to Heritage Assets". Historic England. 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  5. ↑ "Heritage Gateway - Results". www.heritagegateway.org.uk. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  6. ↑ "History of Jordan Hill Roman Temple". English Heritage. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  7. ↑ "NHLE Entry". Historic England. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  8. ↑ Heritage unlocked : guide to free sites in Devon, Dorset and Somerset. English Heritage. London: English Heritage. 2004. ISBN 1-85074-875-6. OCLC 55625023.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  9. ↑ Information, Weymouth Tourist (7 April 2015). "Jordan Hill Roman Temple". Love Weymouth Tourist Information & Events Guide. Retrieved 26 November 2021.

Bibliography

  • Ministry of Works, 1952. Ancient Monuments of Southern England. London: HMSO.
  • Rev. E.V. Tanner, 1969. Romano-Celtic Settlement on Jordan Hill near Weymouth, Dorset
  • Woodward, A. 1992. Shrines and Sacrifice (English Heritage). London: Batsford. pp79
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