Monument record 8343 - Roman Barrack Block D (retentura east) at the Deanery Field

Archaeological investigations in the Deanery Field in 1935 recorded traces of a Roman structure on a north-south alignment within a narrow trench cut across the centre of the field. The trench recorded the external north-south aligned walls as well as the internal partition wall. The floor surface comprised a construction layer of sand overlain by sandstone blocks. (1)

The features were interpreted by Prof Newstead as part of a barrack type building on a north-south alignment. The datable finds form this site included a flagon from the outer small room and some Flavian pottery from the inner larger room. A post pit recorded to the west was interpreted as a post or column base for a veranda. The pit comprised a foundation of crushed sand and rock overlain by a large flat block of sandstone (1)

The evidence from this excavation is complicated by the results of earlier nvestigations in 1923-24. 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.

<1> Newstead, R and J P Droop, 1935, The Roman Fortress at Chester: a Newly Discovered Turret and Rampart Building (Article in Journal). SCH6474.

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

<7> Collingwood R G & Wright R P, 1965, The Roman Inscriptions of Britain: Volume I (Monograph). SCH3235.

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

<9> Lloyd-Morgan G., 1978, Some small Roman Bronzes in the Grovsenor Museum, Chester (Article in Journal). SCH5917.

<10> Lloyd-Morgan G., 1977, Mirrors in Roman Chester (Article in Journal). SCH5915.

<11> Lawson, P H, 1926, Schedule of the Roman Remains of Chester with Maps and Plans (Article in Journal). SCH5956.

<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.