Roman Dorset

At the time of the Roman Invasion of AD 43 present-day Dorset was the territory of the Iron Age tribe called the Durotriges. The Second Legion Augusta under the command of Vespasian (later to be Emperor) was responsible for the conquest of the area. The extent to which, within a generation, Roman ideas, life and language were adopted was remarkable. In addition to an amphitheatre and an aqueduct (both of which can be seen today) Dorchester (Durnovaria) boasted public baths. Bill Putnam, who has excavated widely in Dorset, also describes the neighbouring towns, the great villas (especially the 51-roomed Dawlish Villa), the local industries, the religious beliefs and practices of the Romanised inhabitants and the network of new Roman roads.