Monument record 8469 - Amphitheatre 1 (Phases 1a and 1b)

The amphitheatre at Chester is now known to have had two main phases during its period of use; the first of these being Amphitheatre 1, a stone and timber construction believed to have been built c AD 80 – 90. For clarity, Amphitheatre 1 is discussed according to its individual components for which we have direct evidence: the outer stone wall (also called the ‘concentric wall’ by Thompson (SCH6162)) (CHER 8469/1), the cavea or seating bank (CHER 8469/2) and the timber frame supporting the seating area (CHER 8469/3), in addition to some components attached externally to the outer wall, including a staircase (CHER 8469/4) and a possible shrine (CHER 8469/5). Outside of this amphitheatre and contemporary with this phase is an east – west running roadway (CHER 8488) and evidence of extramural timber structures (CHER 8489).

A more detailed account of these components (with references) can be found in the individual records, however, it appears that the outer wall and arena wall were established first, followed by the excavation of the arena floor (into the bedrock), and the resulting upcast was used to build up the seating bank or cavea of the first phase of Amphitheatre 1 (Amphitheatre 1a).

At some point, a substantial amount of the seating bank material was removed, what was left was levelled off, and the timber framework for the seating of the second early phase (Amphitheatre 1b), was set into that remaining material. A coin dating to AD 96, found in one of the beam slots of the framework indicates when this event occurred. This early version of the amphitheatre is thought to have been accessed by four main entrances, and while the precise locations of the northern and eastern entrances are known, the recorded detail on these entrances relates to Amphitheatre 2. Similarly, the construction of Amphitheatre 2 destroyed the earlier arena floor and wall, when it is thought that the level of the arena was lowered. Please see the individual records for detail.

Historic England, 2018, Roman Amphitheatres, Theatres and Circuses: Introductions to Heritage Assets, p. 3-4 (Monograph). SCH9681.

<1> Thompson A, 1975, The excavations of the Roman amphitheatre at Chester (Article in Journal). SCH6162.

<2> Thompson F.H, 1961, Notes on Excavations and finds in Cheshire during 1960 (Article in Journal). SCH5999.

<3> Chester City Council Archaeology Service, 2001, The Past Uncovered (Newsletter). SCH6029.

<4> Chester City Council Archaeology Service, 2005, The Past Uncovered (Newsletter). SCH6039.

<5> Shotter, D C A, 2010, Roman coins from North West England (Third Edition) (Book). SCH6864.

<6> Wilmott, T., 2009, Roman Amphitheatres and Spectacula: a 21st Century perspective (Monograph). SCH7100.

<7> Donald Insall Associates, 2001, Chester Amphitheatre Conservation Plan (Parts I and II), R3613.1-2 (Report). SCH7555.

<8> Morris M. & Matthews K., 2000, Excavating Chester’s Amphitheatre (Article in Journal). SCH5774.

<9> GSB Prospection, 2002, Geophysical Survey Report 2002/09. Chester Amphitheatre Cheshire, R3799 (Client Report). SCH7873.