Monument record 8173 - Roman Barrack Block C Phase 1 (via Decumana west)

Archaeological investigations at Folliot House in 1955 identified evidence of a barrack building on a north south alignment to the west of the via Decumana (approximate line of the present Northgate Street). Several phases of activity could be identified, following the general pattern seen elsewhere in the fortress (see below), although on this occasion there was no clear evidence of the timber phase of construction. The earliest evidence dated to the early second century and appears to date to the first phase of stone construction. This was followed by slight evidence of a period of dereliction in the mid to late second century followed by evidence of rebuilding of the barracks in the third century. 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.