Monument record 8373 - Early Roman centurions house (via Decumana west) at Northgate Brewery

Evidence for a timber structure interpreted as a centurion’s house was recorded during archaeological investigations at the Northgate Brewery site between 1974-75. Evidence of several phases of activity throughout the Roman period was recorded with three phases of timber construction followed by at least three phases of stone construction (CHER 8502). Initially built in the late first century the structure was rebuilt on exactly the same footprint once before the final timber construction involved some reorganisation of the internal layout. (2)

The evidence comprised a series of stake holes and beam slots forming a number of rooms running north-south on the eastern side of the excavation and traces of a number of rooms on a similar alignment to the west in all allowing for a reasonable reconstruction of a centurion’s house. No definite evidence of external structural remains were recorded however. Evidence of a possible colonnade on the west side was recorded in trench 6 with several post pits excavated and a possible hearth between it and the main structure, although the exact nature of this colonnade is uncertain – whether it was similar to that recorded elsewhere in the fortress and extended the whole length of the structure is one possibility, the other being that it formed part of an enclosed space with several internal columns. Some evidence of floor surfaces, mainly comprising compacted sand was encountered in many of the rooms while traces of a possible stone paved floor was recorded in one room. (2)

Two completely excavated rooms appeared to be about 4.7m long with a possibly larger third room to the north. The southern end of the structure may have been recorded in trench 4 where two parallel features [Feature H46 & H47] interpreted as walls belonging to two adjoining structures – H46 being the south external wall of the centurion’s house and H47 being the north external wall of the barrack block (CHER 8374). A gully located on a north-south alignment to the extreme east of the site probably represented an eaves drip channel for the building and bordered a road between it and the next house to the east. (2)

Dating for the timber phases of construction were typically difficult to ascertain, however small quantities of pottery from around 70AD to around 120AD were recovered from stratified deposits. The evidence suggests that little of the final timber phase structure remained in situ by the mid second century and evidence of a demolition deposit was recorded in only part of one trench. (2)

<1> Davey, P. J., 1973, Chester Northgate Brewery Phase One, p6-8 (Monograph). SCH950.

<2> Strickland T.J & Ward, S.W., 1978, Excavations at Chester Northgate Brewery 1974-5: A Roman Centurion's Quarters and Barrack (Excavation & survey reports) (Monograph). SCH1208.

<3> Strickland, T.J., 1980, First century Deva: some evidence reconsidered in the light of recent archaeological discoveries (Article in Journal). SCH5923.

<4> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, p151-2,157,163 (Book). SCH3556.

<5> Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1911-Present, Journal of Roman Studies, Vol 40 p97-98 (Journal/Periodical). SCH1519.

<6> Anon, 1974, September 1974: North West Newsletter. Excavations (Article in Journal). SCH5742.

<7> Anon, 1975, March 1975: North West Newsletter. Excavations (Article in Journal). SCH5746.

<8> Anon, 1973, March 1973: North West Newsletter. Excavations (Article in Journal). SCH5739.

<9> Anon, 1973, September 1973: North West Newsletter. Excavations (Article in Journal). SCH6497.

<10> Lloyd-Morgan G., 1977, Mirrors in Roman Chester (Article in Journal). SCH5915.

<11> Grosvenor Museum Excavations Newsletter, 1972, Northgate Brewery Excavations summary (Newsletter). SCH6225.

<12> Grosvenor Museum Excavations Newsletter, 1974, Summary of Excavations in Chester (Newsletter). SCH6233.

<13> Grosvenor Museum Excavations Newsletter, 1974, Summary of Excavations in Chester (Newsletter). SCH6234.