Monument record 8345 - Roman Barrack Block B (retentura east)

Archaeological investigations at Deanery Field in 1924 by Prof Newstead recorded evidence of two parallel structures on a north-south alignment interpreted as barrack buildings. The eastern most of the two structures was most completely excavated in this season of excavation at the Deanery Field uncovering three complete suites of two rooms (contubernia) and extensive traces of a further three suites, this building was identified as Barrack B. A line of column bases on the western side of the block indicate the position of a colonnaded veranda. (1)

At the site of Barrack B an extensive section of the east external wall was recovered along with a number of internal partitions indicating the division of the barrack into a series of rooms identified by Newstead as rooms 1a to 5a on a south to north progression with traces of a sixth room to the south and a seventh to the north. An altar was recorded in the north wall of room 4a. To the west of these rooms the second outer rooms were identified either through the discovery of the walls themselves or through the discovery of rubble foundations. The foundations were substantial, comprising broken sandstone set in and evenly coursed with well made mortar. (1)

The floors of this barrack comprised compacted sand only with evidence of extensive wear, with the exception of room 5 where a single opus signinum floor was recovered surrounding the hearths in each room a thin layer of charcoal was also identified. (1)

In four cases (rooms 2a to 5a) traces of a hearth was identified against the partition wall of each suite. In each case the hearth comprised a foundation bed of clay with a central hollow infilled with broken tile and gravel set in mortar. Over which a layer of thick tiles many showing signs of fire damage. A semi-circular series of seven roughly dress stones set in mortar formed a border to the hearth. (1)

Four post pits mark the edge of the veranda to the west. The surface of the veranda itself was not clearly defined in places however but appeared to consist of a compacted sand surface. (1)

The structure of the rooms themselves was broadly similar to that recorded in the earlier excavations with sandstone rubble foundations and stone coursed walls, floor surfaces were primarily compacted sand however a possible opus signinum floor was identified in room 7a. (1)

Three hearths were recorded, one set on the upper floor in room 6a and two hearths in room 7a of rather poor quality. The first of which was semi-circular and set in clay against the east wall with a second roughly squared example in the southwest corner. The hearth identified in room 6a was of a rather better quality with ashlar coursing and a sandstone floor (1).

Room 7a also contained a series of wooden beams in the north-west part of the room, however their exact purpose could not be ascertained although they appeared to be of an early date.

Further traces of the veranda was discovered in 1928 of a similar character as before, a further three post pits for veranda post or column bases as well as the compacted sand floor were encountered at the north end of the barrack block

<1> Newstead, R (Prof.), 1928, Report on the Excavations on the Site of the Roman Fortress at the Deanery Field, Chester (Article in Journal). SCH6477.

<2> Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 1883 -, Transactions of the Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 36/8-10 Watkin W T 1887 (Journal/Periodical). SCH3293.

<3> Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 1883 -, Transactions of the Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 2/33-8 Watkin W T 1884 (Journal/Periodical). SCH3293.

<4> Webster, Graham, 1953, Excavations on the Legionary Defences at Chester, 1949-52 (Part ii), p17-23 (Article in Journal). SCH5727.

<5> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, pp149-51,157 (Book). SCH3556.

<6> Collingwood R G & Wright R P, 1965, The Roman Inscriptions of Britain: Volume I (Monograph). SCH3235.

<7> LeQuesne C, 1999, Excavations at Chester: The Roman and Later Defences Part I (Monograph). SCH6156.

<8> Newstead, Robert (Prof.), 1926, Records of Archaeological Finds at Chester (Article in Journal). SCH5955.

<9> Newstead, R (Prof.), 1924, Report on the Excavations on the Site of the Roman Camp at the Deanery Field, Chester (Article in Journal). SCH6478.

<10> Thompson Watkin W. T., 1886, Roman Cheshire: A Description of Roman Remains in the County of Chester, p158-9 (Book). SCH2878.

<11> Lloyd-Morgan G., 1978, Some small Roman Bronzes in the Grovsenor Museum, Chester (Article in Journal). SCH5917.

<12> Lloyd-Morgan G., 1977, Mirrors in Roman Chester (Article in Journal). SCH5915.

<13> Thompson, F.H., 1964, A History of Cheshire. Volume Two: Roman Cheshire (Book). SCH2862.

<14> Wright, R. P. & Richmond, I. A., 1955, Catalogue of the Roman Inscribed and Sculptured Stones in the Grosvenor Museum, Chester (Monograph). SCH522.

<15> Lloyd-Morgan G., 1981, Jet and shale in the archaeological collections of the Grosvenor Museum (Article in Journal). SCH5932.

<16> Lawson, P H, 1926, Schedule of the Roman Remains of Chester with Maps and Plans (Article in Journal). SCH5956.

<17> Collingwood R G & Wright R P, 1990, The Roman Inscriptions of Britain Vol 2: Fascicule 1., RIB ii (I) 2410.7 (Monograph). SCH6717.