Monument record 8338 - Roman rampart ovens at Newgate Street

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Summary

Traces of two ovens inserted into the Roman rampart were recorded on the site of Newgate House in 1955. The ovens were located to the south east of a later rampart building. The area between the rampart and the internal buildings was known as the intervallum. The inner half of this strip was occupied by the perimeter road (via sagularis). Backing onto the rampart was a series of 'rampart buildings' and bread ovens. The rampart buildings were initially of timber but were rebuilt in stone about the start of the second century. Some at least were demolished as early as the middle of that century. In their stone form they contained three rooms and measured 12.3m x 7.3m. They were often arranged in groups of three and may have served as mess-rooms, one rampart building serving two barracks.

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Type and Period (1)

OVEN (AD 1st Century to AD 2nd Century - 43 AD to 100 AD)

Full Description

Archaeological investigations carried out on the site of Newgate House, Newgate Street in 1955 recorded substantial evidence of Roman activity including evidence of the rampart (CHER 8209/3), an interval tower (CHER 8229), a rampart building (CHER 8337), two successive legionary ovens (CHER 8338) and a section of the intervallum road (CHER 8280/7).

The excavations recorded evidence of two superimposed legionary ovens of a broadly circular pattern comprising the ash pit, stone pitching for the oven wall and clay floor of the oven itself. Although dating evidence for these ovens is limited, it is probable they are early Trajanic at least. (1)

<1> Thompson, F H and F W Tobias, 1957, Excavations in Newgate Street, Chester 1955 (Article in Journal). SCH5745.

<2> Lloyd-Morgan G., 1978, Some small Roman Bronzes in the Grovsenor Museum, Chester (Article in Journal). SCH5917.

<3> LeQuesne C, 1999, Excavations at Chester: The Roman and Later Defences Part I (Monograph). SCH6156.

<4> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, p122,127&128 (Book). SCH3556.

<5> Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1911-Present, Journal of Roman Studies, Vol 46 p125 (Journal/Periodical). SCH1519.

Sources/Archives (5)

<1> SCH5745 Article in Journal: Thompson, F H and F W Tobias. 1957. Excavations in Newgate Street, Chester 1955. Journal of the Chester Archaeological and Historic Society. Volume 44.
<2> SCH5917 Article in Journal: Lloyd-Morgan G.. 1978. Some small Roman Bronzes in the Grovsenor Museum, Chester. Journal of the Chester Archaeological and Historic Society. 61.
<3> SCH6156 Monograph: LeQuesne C. 1999. Excavations at Chester: The Roman and Later Defences Part I. Survey Report No 11.
<4> SCH3556 Book: Harris, B.E. (ed). 1987. Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I. p122,127&128.
<5> SCH1519 Journal/Periodical: Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies. 1911-Present. Journal of Roman Studies. Vol 46 p125.

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (1)

Event - Intervention: Excavations in Newgate Street, Chester in 1955 (Roman Fortress Walls) (Ref: N/A) (ECH3132)

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Location

Grid reference	SJ 40 66 (point) Approximate Position
Map sheet	SJ46NW
Civil Parish	CHESTER NON PARISH AREA, CHESTER, CHESHIRE WEST AND CHESTER
Historic Township/Parish/County	CHESTER, CHESTER HOLY TRINITY, CHESHIRE

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Record last edited

Aug 19 2016 12:06PM