Dorchester Roman walls

The Town Walks in Dorchester follow the remains of the old Roman defences that once surrounded the town of Durnovaria. These defences began as an earthen bank and ditch built no earlier than 130 AD. Later, in the 4th century, stone walls were added along the front of the bank. The ditch was recut during the 14th or 15th century, and by the 17th century most of the walls had disappeared. The walks were landscaped between 1702 and 1743 to create tree-lined avenues along the lines of the Roman defences. John Hutchins’ map of 1772 shows these avenues clearly. The Town Walks are registered at Grade II on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens, while the Roman walls are a scheduled monument. The walks cover most of the original rectangular defences, with six tree-lined paths in different parts of the town. Visitors find six tree-lined walks: North Walk and Colliton Walk in the north-west, West Walks and Bowling Alley Walk in the south-west, and South Walks and Salisbury Walk in the south-east. A surviving fragment of the Roman wall stands on Albert Road near Princes Street. Another 18th-century wall beside the walk round Colliton Park is also preserved. The walks offer a quiet stroll through historic surroundings.