Site Event/Activity record ECH3238 - Excavations at the Roman Amphitheatre, Chester 1930-1931 (Amphitheatre-Newstead II)

Following the discovery of evidence in 1928 - 1929 (ECH4974) suggesting an amphitheatre in Chester further excavations were carried out. A short section of the great radial wall at the eastern end of the new road was noted buried beneath early nineteenth century rubbish. Permission was given for excavation into several small sections that enabled the reconstruction of the design of the amphitheatre with details of the dimensions given. It was estimated that the seating capacity of the arena was 8000 spectators. The site proved complicated with evidence of three centuries of rubbish overlying the amphitheatre with no obvious stratification. Site 1: Section of the external wall c20ft in length, supported externally by two pilaster buttresses. This section was originally discovered and recorded in 1929 (ECH4974) Another short section of the foundations of a Roman building was subsequently discovered during cutting for the main drain. Site 2: To the eastern end of the new road, near St John's Church. A complete section through the seating bank was obtained from the external wall to the arena wall. Between the outer and inner boundaries a massive radial wall was recorded. West of the central section three massive blocks of masonry formed a distinct ramp that may have served as voussoirs for a vaulting or archway. Site 3: The garden of St John's House, East. Here the arena wall was recorded to a height of 5ft. Site 4: Section through the centre of a doorway leading into a chamber under the seating bank, subsequent permission was given to tunnel into both sides of the trench enabling the whole entrance to be recorded. Site 5: Another cross section of the structure was obtained comprising an entrance 6ft wide extending under the seating bank with two, possibly three steps, a section of the external wall with a buttress on the south side of the entrance, a concentric wall flanking the entrance to the south, a section of the arena wall nearly 23ft in length (1). Catalogue of Jet and Shale in the museum includes reference to this site in 1930 and 1965 (1). Roman bronze from excavations (3).