Monument record 8248 - Roman Structure (First Cohort) at Goldsmith House

Archaeological investigations in 1995 and again in 2002 recorded traces of a Roman structure believed to be a barrack block of the First Cohort at Goldsmith House. At least two periods of activity could be identified, both relating to stone foundation buildings on a north-south alignment, however no internal features such as floor surfaces or hearths were encountered. Traces of a veranda 2.7m wide along with evidence of a stone built structure were also encountered during earlier archaeological investigations between 1968-71 and probably relate to this structure, however the results of this excavation have never been published. Legionary barrack blocks each accommodated a century of 80 men plus their officers, and were normally arranged in groups of 6 (a cohort of 480 men). Narrow streets gave access to facing pairs of barracks. The centurions' quarters were situated at the ends of the barracks, adjacent to a major road - either the perimeter road (via sagularis) or main transverse street (via principalis). The centurions' quarters were divided from those of the rank-and-file by a narrow alley. They were wider than the men's quarters but lacked a veranda. In ground plan they consisted of a corridor with rooms (including a private latrine) opening off on each side. The men's quarters consisted on 14 (later 11 or 12) units of two rooms for approximately eight men, fronted by a veranda that often contained an enclosed latrine at one end. The outer room was used to store equipment; the inner was for living and sleeping and contained a hearth. Only 10 pairs of rooms should have been needed to accommodate a century; the purpose of the spare rooms is uncertain. The first barracks were constructed using a timber frame with wattle-and-daub infilled panels. These timber barracks underwent a varying number of re-buildings in a relatively short period of time. From about AD 100, there was intermittent rebuilding in stone (perhaps with timber superstructures). However, there were also periods of abandonment. A comprehensive rebuilding was finally undertaken in the early third century. These barracks had much the same plan as their timber predecessors. A diminished number of barracks continued to be occupied into the fourth century. The First Cohort was double strength in the first century AD under the command of 5 centurions, and continued thereafter to be stronger than the other cohorts. It was situated on the right-hand side of the headquarters building. At Chester its accommodation is currently poorly understood; it appears to have consisted of at least 5 barracks of normal type and 5 single-range buildings. The buildings at the eastern end of the cohort are yet to be interpreted satisfactorily. There is room for 6 buildings in the position reserved for centurions' quarters.