Monument record 8056 - Roman Timber Building, Callin Court (phase 1)

Archaeological investigations at the former Grey Friars Court (now called Callin Court) between 1976 and 1982 recorded evidence of Roman activity in the area. Three broad phases of activity were encountered in the southern (1976-1978) and northern (1981) parts of the site. The first phase of activity comprised a number of structures of an early second century AD date. Phase 2 comprised activity in the later part of the second century while phase 3 appeared to date to the late second and into the third century AD.

The earliest recorded structure in the northern part of the site was a short lived timber building (Structure 5) recorded during excavations in 1981-82, dating to the first phase of activity. The excavations recorded a series of rooms on an east-west alignment with a veranda across the south side in trench 1 of the excavations. The wall plaster was decorative in an imitation marble style (4). Although the archaeological evidence for this structure was limited to traces of timber slots and post holes, it was possible to identify at least five rooms with an internal width of approximately 5m. A drop of over 1.3m across the width of the building was also noted. (13)

No obvious internal floor layers could be identified beyond the base compacted clay layer. Room 5 contained an area of burnt clay however this does not appear to have been sufficiently burnt to be a hearth but may indicate a brazier or container protecting the walls from the fire.

The building was demolished in the early half of the second century AD and subsequently covered by a layer of silt and debris (CHER 8057 (7).

<1> multiple authors, 1978/79, Excavation Reports and Sites Observed, p60-61 (Article in Journal). SCH5801.

<2> Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1970-Present, Britannia, 9/430 Frere S S 1978 (Journal/Periodical). SCH445.

<3> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, p176 (Book). SCH3556.

<4> multiple authors, 1982, Excavation Reports and Sites Observed, p36-7 (Article in Journal). SCH5808.

<5> Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1970-Present, Britannia, 13/353 Rankob N B 1982 (Journal/Periodical). SCH445.

<6> Kelly D.B, 1965, Excavations at Watergate House, Chester, 1959 (Article in Journal). SCH5878.

<7> Grosvenor Museum Excavations Newsletter, 1983, Summary of Excavations in Chester (Newsletter). SCH6269.

<8> Mason, D. J. P., 1987, Chester: the Canabae Legionis (Article in Journal). SCH5623.

<9> Anon, 1978, March 1978: North West Newsletter. Excavations (Article in Journal). SCH5760.

<10> Grosvenor Museum Excavations Newsletter, 1978, Summary of Excavations in Chester (Newsletter). SCH6260.

<11> Grosvenor Museum Excavations Newsletter, 1979, Summary of Excavations in Chester (Newsletter). SCH6262.

<12> multiple authors, 1980/81, Excavation Reports and Sites Observed (Article in Journal). SCH5806.

<13> Ward, S. W., 2012, Greyfriars' Court 1976-8 and 1981 (Article in Monograph). SCH6581.