Monument record 8060 - Second Century Stone Building, Callin Court (phase 3)

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.

Towards the end of the second century (phase 3) a new stone structure was built in the northern part of the site (Structure 6). This structure was more substantial than the earlier timber building (CHER 8056) with at least one projecting wing extending to the south. Evidence of decorated wall plaster was also recovered (7). The overall dimensions of this building was 22m by 17m (8). This stone structure survived until the medieval period when the stone was robbed for the medieval friary (1).

This structure was on a much larger scale and extended much farther to the north across the now infilled valley. Only the southern extent of the structure was identified in Trenches 1 and 2 of the 1981-82 phase of excavation. The south wall of the building included a central alcove positioned between two equally sized wings. A coin of Marcus Aurelius (172-173 AD) from the foundations of one of the walls of this structure indicate it was built in the late 2nd century and appears to have survived throughout much of the third century with fragments of late third century pottery from the demolition spread covering this structure (13)

<1> multiple authors, 1980/81, Excavation Reports and Sites Observed, p60-61 (Article in Journal). SCH5806.

<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.