Overhiller Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 ,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 Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/21298-roman-fort-dawsons-heights-overhill-road/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Overhiller Posted January 6, 2012 Author Share Posted January 6, 2012 Opps sorry - the above post refers to Dawson's Heights Overhill Road Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/21298-roman-fort-dawsons-heights-overhill-road/#findComment-512420 Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim_the_chin Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 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. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/21298-roman-fort-dawsons-heights-overhill-road/#findComment-512446 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jah Lush Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 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. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/21298-roman-fort-dawsons-heights-overhill-road/#findComment-512457 Share on other sites More sharing options...
ed_pete Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 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 Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/21298-roman-fort-dawsons-heights-overhill-road/#findComment-512466 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marmora Man Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 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? Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/21298-roman-fort-dawsons-heights-overhill-road/#findComment-512509 Share on other sites More sharing options...
computedshorty Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 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. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/21298-roman-fort-dawsons-heights-overhill-road/#findComment-512516 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Overhiller Posted January 7, 2012 Author Share Posted January 7, 2012 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? Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/21298-roman-fort-dawsons-heights-overhill-road/#findComment-512528 Share on other sites More sharing options...
alice Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 roman fort on one tree hill about half a mile away - Boudicca famously triumphed there or not Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/21298-roman-fort-dawsons-heights-overhill-road/#findComment-512533 Share on other sites More sharing options...
computedshorty Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 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 Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/21298-roman-fort-dawsons-heights-overhill-road/#findComment-512550 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Overhiller Posted January 7, 2012 Author Share Posted January 7, 2012 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! Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/21298-roman-fort-dawsons-heights-overhill-road/#findComment-512553 Share on other sites More sharing options...
vesti Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 http://dawsonshill.org.uk/ Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/21298-roman-fort-dawsons-heights-overhill-road/#findComment-512695 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TarnRodgers Posted June 2, 2017 Share Posted June 2, 2017 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 Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/21298-roman-fort-dawsons-heights-overhill-road/#findComment-1142303 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mynamehere Posted June 2, 2017 Share Posted June 2, 2017 http://www.dawsonshill.org.ukhttp://www.martindknight.co.uk/7.htmlhttp://www.martindknight.co.uk/MKsResearch.htmlhttps://www.pinterest.com/pin/535858055642960181/ Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/21298-roman-fort-dawsons-heights-overhill-road/#findComment-1142325 Share on other sites More sharing options...
edhistory Posted June 2, 2017 Share Posted June 2, 2017 Just a reminder that the Roman Fort is fake history.The iron age mound in the middle of woodland? Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/21298-roman-fort-dawsons-heights-overhill-road/#findComment-1142397 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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