Monument record 8059 - Roman bank at 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. (12)

In the late second century, a substantial clay and turf bank was constructed on a north south alignment on the lower terrace overlooking the Roodee. The bank was recorded in a single trench in 1976 and although a further exploratory trench to the north was excavated in 1977 in the hopes of identifying the continuation of this feature, no further evidence could be identified due to significant ground disturbance (12). The bank was abutted by a stone revetment on the west side (1).

The function of this substantial bank remains uncertain but it may have been a defensive earthwork protecting the civil settlement on the upper terrace from attacks from the river.

<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, p/36-7 (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.