Durnovaria is a suggested spelling for the Latin form of the name of the Roman town of Dorchester in the modern English county of Dorset, amended from the actually observed Durnonovaria. Upon the assumption that the name was originally Brythonic, it is suggested that the first element in the name, *durno- may mean "fist" like and the second may be related to Old Irish fáir ~ fóir denoting a confined area or den. A simpler amendment would lead to *Duronovaria, making this place one of up to 18 ancient British names that contain Duro- and mostly occur at river crossings, while -novaria has two possible ancient parallels in Britain associated with river junctions. That analysis would perfectly fit the geographical situation of Dorchester.
Surviving fragment of the town walls of Durnovaria
Roman ruins in Dorchester (Durnovaria), Dorset, England (Roman Town House)
Excavations at Maiden Castle in October 1937. Photograph by Major George Allen (1891–1940).
Burials at the war cemetery at Maiden Castle, which date to the late Iron Age, c. 100 BC - 43 AD
Dorchester is the county town of Dorset, England. It is situated between Poole and Bridport on the A35 trunk route. A historic market town, Dorchester is on the banks of the River Frome to the south of the Dorset Downs and north of the South Dorset Ridgeway that separates the area from Weymouth, 7 miles (11 km) to the south. The civil parish includes the experimental community of Poundbury and the suburb of Fordington.
Town Pump and Municipal Buildings
Part of the Roman town house near County Hall, showing the underfloor heating system
Judge Jeffreys' lodging house, now a restaurant, at 6 High West Street
Shire Hall in High West Street, where the trial of the Tolpuddle martyrs took place
