Monument record 8183 - First Century Roman oven at the Bell Tower

Archaeological investigations carried out at the Bell Tower in the Cathedral grounds in 1971 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).

The southern edge of a late first century Roman oven was recorded during archaeological investigations at the site of the Bell Tower in the Cathedral grounds in 1971 overlying an earlier rampart building. Again this structure appeared to have been in use for only a brief period of time with only a small quantity of ash associated with this feature recorded. Two unworn coins of Domitian was recovered from the ash deposit indicating a brief period of use in around 84 AD. (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 Chester Archaeology, 1971, Excavation records for the Bell Tower, Chester Cathedral (Unpublished Report).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.