The name Poundbury these days is most closely associated with Prince Charles's themed housing development on the outskirts of Dorchester. This derives its name from a middle Bronze Age rectangular enclosure which became a hill fort in the Iron Age.
Standing on the walls of old Poundbury I was amused to see the new one framed by a large arch inscribed, "Then I saw a new Heaven and a new Earth". Stretching things a bit, I though.
The northern and eastern sides of the fort were damaged when the Romans built an aqueduct to bring fresh water to their settlement at Durnovaria, modern day Dorchester. The remains of this aqueduct are unimpressive but make a pleasant level walk, until you get to the A37 that is.
It has to be said that as Romano-British remains go Jordan Hill Roman Temple lacks impact.
Just one corner of the foundations of the small rectangular sanctuary building are exposed; the rest is outlined in gravel.
The century would have originally been surrounded by a portico. The bases of four of the portico columns were located during the excavations in the 19th century and in 1931, but these are not delineated on the ground.
It was probably built during the 4th century CE, and is worth visiting for the fine views out to sea and inland towards the Osmington White Horse.
External Links and References
External Links
Jordan Hill Roman Temple
English Heritage Handbook Entry https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/jordan-hill-roman-temple/
It requires a vivid imagination to picture the roughly square enclosure, surrounded on three sides by low banks, on the side of the hill above the Court House in Cowgrove as anything more that an natural formation.
The manor court met here once a fortnight, and the offences and disputes of the tenants were tried and punished.
It is accessible via the footpath from Pamphill Green to Cowgrove but no longer sign-posted off this track. There is no direct access from Cowgrove Road
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