Roman Fort, Dawson's Heights Overhill Road

[Overhiller]

,I seem to remember a local writer called Brian Green in the 1970's makes reference to a Roman fort being on the hill. Interestingly there were a number of ditches across the northern facing side of the hill in the 1970's. It has such a commanding view that it wouldn't be surprising if a defensive structure of some sorts of the period was located there.

The name Dawson's Heights comes from the Dawson's Brick Factory that was located nearby. I believe that this factory provided a lot of bricks during reconstruction in the area following WW2

[Overhiller]

Opps sorry - the above post refers to Dawson's Heights Overhill Road

[jim_the_chin]

An iron age structure would be more likely than a roman one atop a hill. I can't see the point of a roman fort this close to the main settlement north of the river either. I'm unsure if there's ever been a serious excavation though.

[Jah Lush]

Brian Green is a local historian. Wrote a few definitive books on the history of Dulwich and Edward Alleyn. I believe he still owns the stationers/toy shop in the village. He was also involved with the IMPS (of which I was a young member in the early 60s - a sort of younger version of the Boys' Brigade. I'm assuming he is still alive though he must be getting on a bit now if he is.

[ed_pete]

Brian Green is alive and well and does indeed still run the Art Stationers/Toy Shop in Dulwich Village, as well as being an expert local historian. He is also the news editor of the Dulwich Society Newsletter

[Marmora Man]

I thought the Roman Fort story and Iron Age fort site at Dawson Heights were both urban myth making and had been scotched on this forum a couple of years ago?

[computedshorty]

I have lived in the area for over eighty years and there was never a brick works on or near Dawsons Hill, having been involved in the reconstruction of the WW11 bombed properties here no bricks new or reclaimed came from Dawsons Hill.

The use of Dawsons Hill was only at the top at Overhill Road, here were a row of prewar houses, with a row of lock up garages to the rear, and a passage through to the sloping grassed area of the hill, this was used as we would say these days by Fly Tippers and Estate Agents who repaired houses and disposed of the unwanted household furniture and building materials down the slope.

The houses were demolished to make way for Dawson Heights.

[Overhiller]

Very interesting thread. Such a wealth of local knowledge out there. I wonder who "Dawson" was then? Any ideas? The two blocks are Bredinghurst and Ladlands. Is it correct that these were the names of local fields/manors?

[alice]

roman fort on one tree hill about half a mile away - Boudicca famously triumphed there or not

[computedshorty]

This might enlighten you about Dawsons Hill stability.

Dawson's Hill before Dawson's Heights by James Dallaway

http://www.dulwichsociety.com/newsletters/43-spring-2006/213

[Overhiller]

Very interesting! Thank you for posting that. It would explain the ditches on the north side of the estate that I used to enjoy building camps in as a child!

[vesti]

http://dawsonshill.org.uk/

[TarnRodgers]

Hi,

I realise that I am a few years too late to give a timely response to this post, but I stumbled across it and couldn't resist messaging. I'm a postgraduate student researching the history of Dawson's Heights and I wondered where you found this information about the heights being named after a local brick factory?

Warm regards,

Tarn

[mynamehere]

http://www.dawsonshill.org.uk

http://www.martindknight.co.uk/7.html

http://www.martindknight.co.uk/MKsResearch.html

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/535858055642960181/

[edhistory]

Just a reminder that the Roman Fort is fake history.

The iron age mound in the middle of woodland?