Site Event/Activity record ECH5869 - Watching Brief at Saighton Camp (Crown Fields Phase 3), 2014

Three archaeological trial trenches were excavated by NAA in the south-eastern section of Saighton Camp in January 2014. The purpose of this phase of works was to attempt to delimit the extents of the settlement related activity attributable to the Roman period that was previously identified in trial trenches 49 - 52 and 78 during an archaeological evaluation carried out in 2008. This was considered necessary in order to inform further archaeological mitigation works to be undertaken during the redevelopment of the site. The evaluation was undertaken in accordance with a WSI for the project, prepared by NAA and agreed with the archaeological advisors to the Planning Authority in advance. (1) Published account (2022) of the results of the programme of archaeological mitigation at Saighton Camp undertaken between 2005 and 2015, which revealed important and extensive Roman period remains within the area of development. The site is located 3km from the Roman legionary fortress of Chester (Deva Victrix). A combination of trial trenching, watching brief monitoring and excavation across the area of proposed development revealed the remains of a high-status settlement of second to fourth century date (CHER 7418/2), together with an associated regular field system (CHER 7418/1) laid out over more than 20 hectares. The excavated settlement appears to be an ancillary area to a much larger site, the centre of which lies to the south in the area of the moated site (CHER 1946) and is believed to be a villa. This is the closest such site to Chester and villas are notably rare in the region. The field system runs parallel with a modern road (Sandy Lane), suggesting the latter is a Roman route. The field system was probably laid out by the legion at Deva as part of the lands they controlled around the fortress. (2)