Monument record 1913/1 - Roman Camp on Stamford Heath, 350m North East of Stamford Hollows Farm

<1> Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England (RCHME), 1987, Rectangular Enclosure at Stamford Heath (Book). SCH2814.

Examination of 1947 RAF photography revealed a rectangular earthwork enclosure over-ploughed by narrow ridge & furrow in its south half with striations suggesting modern ploughing or drainage overlying north half. Enclosure situated in two modern fields. South-west corner partially destroyed by hedge. Enclosure 120m N-S x 85m E-W. Best preserved on south and south-west side, where it is marked by a slight bank c.8m wide x 0.3m high. Outer ditch in south 3m wide x 0.1m deep, and in north 2-4m wide. Probably originally continuous around whole site. Possible entrance on east side, just south of mid point. No internal features. Although it lies close to site RN: 1914, differences in angularity of corners and narrowness of bank and ditch may suggest different date and function. This site is placed in center of Stamford Heath as marked on Burdett's plan of 1777 and may represent a paddock associated with medieval/post medieval use

<2> Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England (RCHME), 1986, Plan, 1:1000 (Graphic Material). SCH2643.

<3> Cheshire County Council, 1974, County Treasures Record (Index). SCH1000.

<4> Chester Archaeological Society, Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society, Ainsworth S et al 1988 70/81-85 (Journal/Periodical). SCH1595.

Rectangular Enclosure. 180m south of modern Tarvin Road and 160m south of the course of the Chester-Northwich Roman road. RAF aerial photographs revealed an earthwork site largely overploughed by narrow ridge and furrow in its southern half, with striations suggesting modern ploughing or drainage overlying the norrthern half. Dayte And function of this earthwork uncertain. Perhaps important that this enclosure is placed almost centrally to the defined area of Stamford Heath. It may perhaps represent a compound oe enclosed paddock associated with the medieval or post medieval exploitation of the heath.

<5> English Heritage, Various, Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Amendment) (Scheduling Record). SCH2950.

The monument includes a Roman camp recognised as a cropmark by aerial photography and just visible as a standing earthwork in two fields on Stamford Heath near Christleton. The earthworks stand no more than 0.3m high and have been reduced by ploughing in the northern half. The site is overlaid by narrow ridge and furrow, the remains of earlier cultivation, in the southern half. This part is now under permanent pasture. A pond marked on the tithe award map is now filled in but its site is marked by a very slight hollow in the south west quarter of the enclosure. This pond post dates the period of use of the camp. The site is 200m south of the Roman road whose course is followed by the modern Tarvin Road. The camp measures 120m internally from north to south and 85m from east to west. It is rectangular with the north west corner rounded in the playing card shape of a typical Roman earthwork camp. The other corners, although not visible, will also be rounded and the south west corner lies under the hedgerow of the surrounding field. The bank is 8m wide at the base and stands to a maximum of 0.3m high. The ditch is outside this rampart and is traceable all around the rampart. It measures 3m wide and 0.1m deep. No entrances have been found but comparison with other Roman camps would suggest that they will be located in the mid-point of each side. The area enclosed by rampart and ditch is 1.02ha which is comparable to the smaller of the enclosures on Upton Heath to the north east of Chester 4km away.

<6> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

Originally suggested as a medieval or later animal enclosure it has since been scheduled as a Roman camp. It is one of a number of Roman practice camps in this area.

<7> Philpott, R A, 1998, New Evidence from Aerial Reconnaissance for Military Sites in Cheshire (Article in Journal). SCH5632.

One of a group of a series of subrectangular enclosures within a few kilometres of Chester. A discussion about the interpretation of these features can be found in this article. New discoveries from aerial photography and excavation support a Roman Military origin.