Monument record 8167 - Roman rampart ovens at Linenhall Street

Archaeological investigations carried out on Linenhall Street in 1949 by G Webster identified traces of a substantial oven to the rear of, and cutting in to, the earth rampart (CHER 8213/5). The remains of the oven comprised an ash pit and working platform some 8.5m in length extending for the remainder of the excavated area. Although the upper part of the oven itself had been removed, two internal clay floors were encountered with traces of an earlier oven underlying it. The oven appeared to have a diameter of 3-3.5m with traces of heavy stone walls set into the clay floor. (1)

Subsequent excavations carried out in Linenhall Street between 1961 and 1962 by F H Thompson of the Grosvenor Museum recorded further evidence of the Roman defensive system. In all 24 trenches were excavated across a substantial area with the aim of establishing the exact line and composition of the Roman defences on the western side of the fortress. (2)

The evidence comprised the southern edge of an oven in trench 10 and its associated ash pit in the adjacent trench 11. The associated pottery indicated a period of use up to 120AD. (2)

<1> Webster, Graham, 1953, Excavations on the Legionary Defences at Chester, 1949-52 (Part ii) (Article in Journal). SCH5727.

<2> Thompson F.H, 1969, Excavations at Linenhall Street, Chester 1961-62 (Article in Journal). SCH5894.

<3> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, p152,157-8 (Book). SCH3556.