Monument record 8507 - Roman surface at the Bell Tower

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).

An early second century surface of compacted cobbling was recorded during archaeological investigations at the site of the Bell Tower in the Cathedral grounds in 1971 overlying the second oven structure recorded at the site. (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 Chester Archaeology, 1971, Excavation records for the Bell Tower, Chester Cathedral (Unpublished Report).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.