Monument record 8013 - Roman Cemetery Outside North Wall

There is some debate on whether there was an extensive cemetery north of the city's north wall, but a small number of burials have been reported from this area, including perhaps two cremations and one inhumation in a lead coffin (1, 2, 3). The tombstones built into the north wall are supposed to have come from this northern cemetery, but, according to the VHC, the use of tombstones for repairs elsewhere in the circuit of the fortress weakens the argument (3). A 'sepulchral urn' was reported from Chester College, but the nature of this find has been doubted because Watkin could not track down 'definate particulars for these finds' (1). A cremation is also reported from Abbot's Grange (2, 3), and a possibly second century lead coffin with human remains was found northeast of the Northgate roundabout in 1984 (4).

<1> Thompson Watkin W. T., 1886, Roman Cheshire: A Description of Roman Remains in the County of Chester, p 220 (Book). SCH2878.

<2> Lawson, P H, 1926, Schedule of the Roman Remains of Chester with Maps and Plans, 27/185/No.83 (Article in Journal). SCH5956.

<3> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, p 179 (Book). SCH3556.

<4> Mason, D. J. P., 1987, Chester: the Canabae Legionis, p 166 (Article in Journal). SCH5623.

<5> Carrington, P., 2012, Northgate Roundabout, 1984 (Article in Monograph). SCH6560.