Monument record 8182 - Roman rampart building (No 11) at the Bell Tower

Traces of a wooden structure in the intervallum zone was recorded during archaeological investigations at the site of the Bell Tower in 1971 in the grounds of the Cathedral. The investigations recorded a series of archaeological features in the early Roman period. The earliest features identified consisted of a burnt/rake out area indicating a nearby oven, dating was limited to a single coin dated to AD 72. The oven was subsequently levelled (CHER 8181). A series of post holes on an east west alignment were then recorded, possibly representing a rampart building (CHER 8182). The southern wall of a second oven was then identified, again dating was limited to a single coin dated to AD 84-85 (CHER 8183). The whole site was subsequently covered by a surface of compacted cobbles of possible second century date (CHER 8507).

Overlying the early phase of oven construction a series of post holes were recorded on an east-west alignment and presumably dated to the late first century. The structure appeared to have been in use for a short time only however and it was soon replaced with a later phase of oven construction. (1)

<1> Chester Archaeology, 1971, Excavation records for the Bell Tower, Chester Cathedral (Unpublished Report). SCH6619.

<2> multiple authors, 1973, Excavation Reports and Summaries, p12 (Article in Journal). SCH5782.

<3> Anon, 1975, Abstract of Proceedings, p134 (Article in Journal). SCH5906.

<4> Longley D, 1977-1978, Longley Archive, no.545 (Paper Archive). SCH2005.

<5> Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1970-Present, Britannia, 3/313 Wilson D R 1972 (Journal/Periodical). SCH445.

<6> Anon, 1973, September 1973: North West Newsletter. Excavations (Article in Journal). SCH6497.