Monument record 8074 - Roman Retaining wall and creek at Watergate House

Archaeological investigations at Watergate House in 1959 identified evidence of a small inlet or creek present during the early Roman period at a time when the River Dee came up as far as the present Watergate itself. This area to the west of the fortress contained a harbour and some civil settlement including a linear stone structure to the north of the creek.

The creek was present in the late first century when a revetment was in place along its northern bank but it appears to have been in-filled sometime in the second centry when a stone revetment wall was placed across the mouth of the creek. (1)

<1> Kelly D.B, 1965, Excavations at Watergate House, Chester, 1959 (Article in Journal). SCH5878.

<2> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, p176 (Book). SCH3556.

<3> Mason, D. J. P., 1978, The Extramural Area, p36-37 (Article in Journal). SCH6313.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, 1981 SJ46NW72 (Index). SCH2487.