Monument record 8356 - Possible Roman ovens replacing rampart building No 3

Archaeological investigation at the Deanery Field in 1935 by Prof Newstead recorded evidence of a bank like structure overlying the rampart building identified in the Abbey Green area (CHER 8355). The evidence comprised a heavily burnt layer of clay capping a structure surviving to a height of approximately 0.85m with a cross wall built to the south. The base comprised a solid mass of broken roof tile with lime rubble and plaster intermixed over which were several irregular courses of sandstone all set in puddle clay. The upper layer of burnt clay covered the entire structure. Although dating evidence was limited, pottery recorded from tile layer at the base indicate a late first century to early second century date of construction (1)

Traces of further rampart ovens were recorded overlying the rampart building during excavations in 1975-77 when the building appears to have been deliberately demolished either in part or whole. At some point later in the second century the walls of the former rampart building were then rebuilt to provide a shelter for the ovens. The ovens went out of use at the close of the second century when the rampart was raised and extended over the remains of the ovens and their shelters (2)

<1> Newstead, R (Prof.), 1936, Excavations in the Deanery Field and Abbey Green, 1935 (Article in Journal). SCH6480.

<2> McPeake J.C. Bulmer M & Rutter J.A, 1980, Excavations in the garden of No. 1 Abbey Green, Chester, 1975-77 (Article in Journal). SCH5924.

<3> Newstead, R and J P Droop, 1935, The Roman Fortress at Chester: a Newly Discovered Turret and Rampart Building (Article in Journal). SCH6474.

<4> Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1970-Present, Britannia, 7/319-320 Wilson D R 1976 (Journal/Periodical). SCH445.

<5> Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1970-Present, Britannia, 8/385 Frere S S 1977 (Journal/Periodical). SCH445.

<6> Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1970-Present, Britannia, 9/429-30 Wilson D R 1978 (Journal/Periodical). SCH445.

<7> Petch A.J, 1978, Introduction (Article in Journal). SCH6309.

<8> McPeake J.C., 1978, The First Century (Article in Journal). SCH6310.

<9> Strickland, T.J., 1978, The Fortress in the Second and Third Centuries (Article in Journal). SCH6312.

<10> Anon, 1976, March 1976: North West Newsletter. Excavations, p18-19 (Article in Journal). SCH5748.

<11> multiple authors, 1973, Stray Finds, p58-60 (Article in Journal). SCH5780.

<12> Grosvenor Museum Excavations Newsletter, 1975, Summary of Excavations in Chester (Newsletter). SCH6237.

<13> Grosvenor Museum Excavations Newsletter, 1975, Summary of Excavations in Chester (Newsletter). SCH6238.

<14> Grosvenor Museum Excavations Newsletter, 1975, Summary of Excavations in Chester (Newsletter). SCH6239.

<15> Grosvenor Museum Excavations Newsletter, 1976, Summary of Excavations in Chester (Newsletter). SCH6256.

<16> Grosvenor Museum Excavations Newsletter, 1976, Summary of Excavations in Chester (Newsletter). SCH6257.

<17> Grosvenor Museum Excavations Newsletter, 1976, Summary of Excavations in Chester (Newsletter). SCH6258.

<18> Grosvenor Museum Excavations Newsletter, 1978, Summary of Excavations in Chester (Newsletter). SCH6261.

<19> Grosvenor Museum Excavations Newsletter, 1983, Recent research on the defences of Roman Chester (Newsletter). SCH6223.

<20> Grosvenor Museum Excavations Newsletter, 1975, Summary of Excavations in Chester (Newsletter). SCH6236.

<21> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, pp151 & 157 (Book). SCH3556.

<22> Strickland, T.J., 1980, First century Deva: some evidence reconsidered in the light of recent archaeological discoveries (Article in Journal). SCH5923.