Monument record 8508 - Roman Barrack Block B Phase 1 (via Decumana west) at Foliott House

Traces of two phases of a Roman legionary barrack block was recorded during archaeological investigations by Mr Petch at Folliot House in 1955. The evidence suggests a barrack of fairly standard width (8.54m) with a veranda along its east face a further 2.45m wide. (1)

The evidence comprised the southern external wall on an east-west alignment in trench 1 as well as a cross section across the inner large room of a contubernia (suite of rooms used by legionary soldiers comprising an inner sleeping room and an outer smaller room for equipment) before encountering the north partition wall of the room separating it from the next contubernia. (1)

Trench 6 recorded the west external wall on a north-south alignment running closely parallel to a second external wall belonging to the adjacent barrack block (CHER 8173). Trench 5 continued on from trench 6 and provided a more or less complete cross section of the rooms of a contubernia of the barracks on an east-west alignment. This provided evidence of a tiled hearth against the central partition wall separating the two rooms of the contubernia, clay floor surfaces in both rooms and evidence of the central partition wall itself as well as the eastern external wall. (1)

Further archaeological investigations in 2005 recorded further traces of the second contubernia of the barrack block in trench 1 comprising the rubble foundation of an east-west aligned wall with evidence of flat Roman tiles observed on both sides of the wall. The Roman evidence was recorded at a depth of 1.20m (3)

<1> Chester Archaeology, 1955, Folliot House Site Record (Unpublished Report). SCH6565.

<2> Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1911-Present, Journal of Roman Studies, Vol 46 p125 (Journal/Periodical). SCH1519.

<3> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, p151 & 163 (Book). SCH3556.

<4> Thompson, F.H., 1964, A History of Cheshire. Volume Two: Roman Cheshire, p34 (Book). SCH2862.

<5> Earthworks Archaeological Services, 2005, Proposed Redevelopment on Land to the Rear of 49 Northgate Street, Chester; An Archaeological Evaluation., R2581 (Client Report). SCH4713.