Monument record 8385 - Handbridge Roman Cemetery

Along the line of the Watling Street Roman road in Handbridge have been found several burials, cremations and tombstones which suggest there was once a major Roman cemetery there between the first and third centuries AD.

In the earlier stages of the Roman occupation in Britain cremation was the customary burial rite. The majority of Handbridge’s funerary rites are cremations, and many examples have been discovered of heavily burnt bone that survives only in fragments, as well as one or two instances of calcined bone (bone reduced to ash by the burning process.) During the second century, inhumation was introduced as an alternative, and by the end of the third century it had completely replaced cremation as the habitual burial practice. Seven burials have been discovered near Edgar’s Field, and at Queen’s Park a lead-lined coffin was found containing the body of a child.

Roman burials and cremations were frequently accompanied by pottery and glassware, probably filled with food, as well as money, lamps and other accessories. The grave goods were included in the belief that the dead person should be supplied with all possible earthly comforts for their journey to the underworld. Several coins have been found, including some depicting Vespasian, Valens and Constantine I. Handbridge has also yielded black-burnished ware, an orange single-handled flagon, Oxford ware, several latticed jars; and a pottery figurine of an unknown goddess found near Salmon Leap.

Many of the burials would be marked with inscribed or sculptured stones, and although many of these survive, some become dissociated with their burial. Several slate tombstones were found at Handbridge, including one belonging to a standard-bearer of Legio XX, and one which described the career of an officer who served in Legio XXII Deiotariana before being promoted to the rank of praefectus in Legio XX. Several stone decorations have also been found, such as the stone pine cone found at Appleyard’s Lane.

During an excavation near the line of the Eaton Road in 1813, workers also found what may have been a columbarium-type tomb. Columbaria were sepulchral buildings containing many small niches or ‘pigeon-holes’ for cremations. They were usually built by funeral societies to which most of the lower and middle classes in Rome belonged.

Geophysical survey and a watching brief prior to a pipeline installation adjacent to Eaton Road did not reveal any evidence of the Roman cemetery in the school playing fileds apposite Grennbank house. It is there fore possible that the cemetery did not extend into this area. (18)The tombstone CHER 8385/10 is not believed to have been found in situ.

<1> Newstead, R (Prof.), 1948, Records of Archaeological Finds VI, Newstead R 1946 36/121-133 (Article in Journal). SCH5761.

<2> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, 1/182-183 Petch D F 1987 (Book). SCH3556.

<3> Williams. W.J, 1933, The Watling Street at Heronbridge, Williams W J 1933 30/56-59 (Article in Journal). SCH5717.

<4> Williams, W J, 1959, The Fortress of Deva, Williams W J 1959 46/77 (Article in Journal). SCH6341.

<5> Petch D.F, 1976, An inscription from Chester, Petch D F 1976 59/31-4 (Article in Journal). SCH5910.

<6> Chester Archaeological Society, Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society, 1849 lst s/1/424,425,460 (Journal/Periodical). SCH1595.

<7> Lawson, P H, 1926, Schedule of the Roman Remains of Chester with Maps and Plans, 181 (Article in Journal). SCH5956.

<8> Haverfield, F, 1900, Catalogue of the Roman Sculptured stones in the Grosvenor Museum, Haverfield F 1900 7/75/No.157 (Article in Journal). SCH5530.

<9> Chester Archaeological Society, Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society, Lawson P H 1932 29/70/Nos.95-6 (Journal/Periodical). SCH1595.

<10> Chester Archaeological Society, Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society, Williams W J 1928 28/216-17 (Journal/Periodical). SCH1595.

<11> Collingwood R G & Wright R P, 1965, The Roman Inscriptions of Britain: Volume I, 1/No.510 (Monograph). SCH3235.

<12> Hemingway, J., 1831, History of Chester, from its foundation to the present time. Volume 2, 2/352 (Book). SCH1412.

<13> Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1911-Present, Journal of Roman Studies, Collingwood R G & Taylor M V 1934 24/219/No.3 (Journal/Periodical). SCH1519.

<14> Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1911-Present, Journal of Roman Studies, Wilson D R 1965 55/221 (Journal/Periodical). SCH1519.

<15> Thompson Watkin W. T., 1886, Roman Cheshire, /217-219 (Maps and Plans). SCH2871.

<16> Wright, R. P. & Richmond, I. A., 1955, Catalogue of the Roman Inscribed and Sculptured Stones in the Grosvenor Museum, Chester, /57 No.186c (Monograph). SCH522.

<17> County Historic Environment Record, 1973-1985, Cheshire Archaeological Bulletin, 1-10. 7/46 Ward S
Carrington P & Morris M G 1980 (Journal/Periodical). SCH565.

<18> Oxford Archaeology North, 2017, Archaeological Investigations Report. Heronbridge to Curzon Pipeline (Client Report). SCH8313.