Site Event/Activity record ECH3199 - Excavations in Deanery Field, Chester in 1884

Excavations carried out in the northwest corner of Deanery Field in 1884 under Watkin's supervision (Newstead reports that these excavations took place in 1883 (2)). Walls of Rampart buildings and the intervallum road were observed over a relatively extensive area (1). Excavations agreed with the Dean of Chester in 1883 and begun on 24 January 1884. The first point of excavation was a shaft immediately beneath the walls, near the north west angle of the field and 5.8m from the boundary wall. A second trench was excavated on the 26th January some 6.4m from the inner side of the wall where the north west angle of a building was recorded (rampart building?). The building was found to be 21m in length and 7.3m in width and formed of red sandstone. Towards the edge of the trench further stonework may indicate the barracks block (3).