Monument record 8500 - Roman structure at the Deanery Field

Archaeological investigations carried out by Newstead in 1922 in the southern part of the Deanery Field recorded evidence of a Roman building. On this occasion, traces of sandstone block and rubble core walls were recorded in sections viB, vB and v on an east west alignment while further rubble foundations were recorded in sections viA viiA and vA. Several sand floors were also recorded suggesting the presence of at least two suites of rooms (conturbernia). (1)

The earliest phase of activity comprised rubble foundations of mortar bonded sandstone containing late first century pottery. Several floor surfaces were recorded within the structure indicating activity for much of the Roman period. (1)

A bronze disc or badge recovered from the barrack block was inscribed LEGXX IVLICA NDIDI, translated as Property of Iulius Candidus of the Twentieth Legion (22)

The evidence from this excavation is complicated by the results of later investigations in the Deanery Field. This area is believed to hold barrack blocks for a cohort of the legion containing six barrack blocks and six associated centurion's houses on a north-south alignment. Later investigations in the area have revealed substantial evidence of three parallel barrack blocks (Barracks A, B and F) and traces of a further two (Barracks D & E) on the same alignment. The evidence from 1923 suggests the Roman structure excavated here extends across Barracks D & E and does not conform with the later evidence. It is uncertain whether these features relate to a different building altogether or a different phase of construction.

<1> Newstead, R (Prof.), 1924, Report on the Excavations on the Site of the Roman Camp at the Deanery Field, Chester (Article in Journal). SCH6478.

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

<7> Droop, J P and R Newstead, 1931, Excavations in the Deanery Field, Chester, 1928 (Article in Journal). SCH6475.

<8> Droop, J P and R Newstead, 1931, Excavations in the Deanery Field, Chester, 1928, Part II: the Finds (Article in Journal). SCH6476.

<9> Newstead, R (Prof.), 1928, Report on the Excavations on the Site of the Roman Fortress at the Deanery Field, Chester (Article in Journal). SCH6477.

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

<12> Newstead, R (Prof.), 1936, Excavations in the Deanery Field and Abbey Green, 1935 (Article in Journal). SCH6480.

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

<18> Lloyd-Morgan G., 1978, Some small Roman Bronzes in the Grovsenor Museum, Chester (Article in Journal). SCH5917.

<19> Newstead, Robert (Prof.), 1926, Records of Archaeological Finds at Chester (Article in Journal). SCH5955.

<20> Collingwood R G & Wright R P, 1965, The Roman Inscriptions of Britain: Volume I (Monograph). SCH3235.

<21> LeQuesne C, 1999, Excavations at Chester: The Roman and Later Defences Part I (Monograph). SCH6156.

<22> Collingwood R G & Wright R P, 1991, The Roman Inscriptions of Britain Vol 2: Fascicule 3, RIB ii (III) 2427.14 (Monograph). SCH6719.