Monument record 1970/3 - Roman Camp 300m West of Upton Grange Farm

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ 46 NW 22 (Index). SCH2487.

Rectangular enclosure observed on air photographs dating to 1935 (see source 2) by an OS field investigator (E.Geary). The site was visited on 09/11/54 and the following comments made:-
'It is situated in flat open country with no natural defensive advantages. The only portions visible on the ground are the east side and part of the west side. The east side is situated in a field of stubble and consists of a barely visible ploughed-down bank. Slopes not surveyable. The visible part of the west side is situated in a pasture field and consists of a ploughed-down bank with an averge width of 6.0m and a height of 0.2m.
There are no traces of entrances or of internal buildings. No surface finds.
The slight nature of the remains prevented any conclusions being drawn regarding their origin of pupose. The absence of entrances, and surface finds, suggests that the remains are not Roman and the topographical situation is not indicative of a prehistoric site.
The outskirts of Chester were the scene of much military activity during the siege of the city [See SJ 46 NW] and the remains may be those of a defensive work of that occasion. Canon Morris notes that a letter dated April 30th 1645 mentions defensive works at Upton.' (see source 3)

The site was investigated again on 24/05/56 by S.Sheward for the LS 25" map and again on 17/10/56 by Evelyn Florence Anderson, the following comment was made:
'I have investigated the site, and I am unable to find any surveyable feature on the ground.'

The site was investigated again on 15/07/64 by John Rigg who commented:
'There is no trace of the earthwork.'

<2> Various, Aerial photographs, CPE UK 1935 3026-7 (Aerial Photograph). SCH128.

<3> Morris Canon R H, 1964, The siege of Chester, 1643-1646 (Book). SCH3241.

<4> Wilson North R, 1990, RCHME survey of Enclosure on Upton Heath (Unpublished Report). SCH1107.

Field survey by RCHME in 1989. Playing card shape and proximity to sites 1970/1 & 2 may suggest Roman marching or practice camp or an enclosure of medieval date. Site is bisected by A41, Long Lane. To the south-west it has been destroyed by modern houses while to north-east it survives as slight earthwork upto 0.3m high. Two sides and 1 angle survive. Traces of possible a external ditch present. An interpretation for the Upton Heath enclosures being of medieval date and relating to stock control on the heathland.

<5> Matthews K J, Emery M, Edwards J & Harrison L, 1994, Upton-by-Chester County High School 1994 Trial Excavation (Client Report). SCH3543.

Evaluation consisting of geophysical survey and trial trenching was carried out in 1994 prior to construction of a car park. The southern ditch of the enclosure was located, it was 3.2m wide and originally v-shaped. It had lain open for a short time and had both primary and secondary silts. Tip lines suggest that the ditch had been back-filled with earth from an internal bank. Three sherds of Roman pottery were found during the evaluation. In terms of a definitive interpretation and date for the enclosure the results of the evaluation were inconclusive. The lack of dating evidence is seen to be indicative of the short period of use of the enclosure. The report discusses the interpretation of the enclosure as a Roman temporary camp versus that put forward by R.W.North of the RCHME as a medieval heathland stock enclosure.

<6> English Heritage, Various, Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Amendment), 25726 (Scheduling Record). SCH2950.

Part of a Roman camp lying in two fields to the west of Upton Grange Farm. It is divided into two separate areas by Long Lane. The camp was identified by aerial photographs and the southern part has been confirmed by an excavation in 1995. The enclosure is rectangular with the longer sides running north east to south west, and only a third of the original extent can now be traced. The east side and part of the north side survive but the monument has been cut and partly destroyed by the construction of Long Lane passing to the south. The southern side of the enclosure ditch has been located to the south of the road in the field used by Plas Newton School and tennis courts have been built over the western quarter of the camp. The excavation has revealed that the ditch is 3m wide with a ploughed down bank inside it 6m wide at the base and 0.2m high. The north west corner is rounded in the characteristic shape of a Roman earthwork camp. The extent of the northern side still remaining is 50m and the remaining eastern side is 80m. On the south side of Long Lane the excavation has revealed the ditch to have a V-cut bottom. The western two thirds of the camp have been destroyed by house foundations and the service road to the estate which includes Glastonbury Avenue. The camp is one of an important group of five found in the fields to the west and north west of Upton Grange. Their proximity to each other suggests that they were practice camps erected by troops from the garrison at Chester during the Roman occupation.

<7> Bluesky International Ltd, 2005-2006, 2005-2006 Bluesky Survey (Aerial Photograph). SCH5483.

Clearly visible as a soil mark.

<8> Cheshire Historic Environment Record, 1990-2001, Jill Collens and Rob Philpott's Aerial Photographs, LM 90.2019, LM 90.2026, 10/08/1990 (Aerial Photograph). SCH5403.

The northern half of the enclosure ditch is visible as an earthwork.

<9> Philpott, R A, 1998, New Evidence from Aerial Reconnaissance for Military Sites in Cheshire, Brittania, Vol. XXIX. 1998 (Article in Journal). SCH5632.

One of a group of a series of subrectangular enclosures within a few kilometres of Chester. A discussion about the interpretation of these features can be found in this article. New discoveries from aerial photography and excavation support a Roman Military origin.

<10> Cheshire Historic Environment Record, 1989, Jill Collens' Aerial Photographs, 6.0592, 6.0595 (Aerial Photograph). SCH9711.