The Roman Town House
in Dorchester stands within Colliton Park. Colliton Park was acquired by Dorset County Council in 1933 as the site for the
construction of County Hall. The Town House was discovered in 1937/38 during an archaeological investigation carried out by
the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society prior to the construction of the new building. Subsequently plans for
County Hall were modified so that the Roman Town House could be retained on site.
The Town House is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, a Grade 1 listed building and is bounded on the
north and west sides by North Walk and West Walk which are also Scheduled Monuments having the remains of the Roman ramparts
of the town just below surface level.
The West Range was re-excavated and provided with a steel and glass cover roof between 1996
and 1999, all perched on the original foundations.
A Management
Plan for the period 2007 to 2009 has been produced by Martin Cooke working with Interpretation Consultant Carol Parr and in
conjunction with the County Council's Historic Environment Manager. This provides a practical, documented approach to the
management, use and development of the site. The learning opportunities of the Town House were the principal focus of
a successful Your Heritage bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund, produced by Heritage & Leisure management.
H&L worked with
Dorset County Council and its partners to assist in the implementation of the Town House's interpretation and to develop the
concept and gain funding for the successful first two-day Roman Festival for Dorchester on the 30 and 31 August 2008.
