Monument record 8054 - Roman Stone Building on lower terrace, Callin Court (Phase 1 & 2)

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.

Immediately prior to construction, the site was prepared through the cutting of two level platforms into the natural clay at vertical intervals of 0.5m. The earliest phase of construction in the southern area appears to be a well made stone building (Structure 1) with a mortar floor built on the lower terrace to the west near the quay wall recorded during excavations in 1976. The excavations revealed the eastern wall of the building on a north-south axis and a small area of its internal floor surface (13). Associated finds indicate this building was constructed in the first century and perhaps had a military origin and may have been a warehouse. (7).

The excavations also revealed strips of reddish mortar, thought to be evidence of quarter-round moulding. A mortar lined pit also appears to have been cut into the floor during the lifetime of the structure, although its fill dates to the following phase of activity. Evidence of a possible hearth comprising an area of silt and burning was also noted against the northern part of the wall of this structure. Animal remains were recorded within the hearth area. Dating was limited but appeared to suggest an early second century date. (13)

This stone structure was rebuilt in the mid second century (phase 3) using rougher material but on a similar outline (Structure 3). The new foundations were built on a massive scale with four courses of rough sandstone blocks comprising a wall some 1.1m thick and 1.5m deep. The wall was 0.9m east of the earlier stone wall. The internal space of this structure was somewhat disturbed and may have comprised a hard wearing surface of mortar set on broken sandstone and brash (13)

The stone building survived until the late second century when it was destroyed to make way for a substantial bank (phase 3: CHER 8059) (7)

<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.