Monument record 8215/2 - Evidence of the Roman West Ditch at Linenhall Street

Traces of the eastern lip of a ditch believed to be the western defensive ditch were encountered during archaeological investigations at Linenhall Street in 1949. A single trench cut across the expected line of the Roman fortress recorded lip of the V shaped ditch (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. The fortress ditch was encountered in trench 1 and was V shaped in profile, similar to that recorded elsewhere in the fortress. Although believed to be originally 7.62m wide and 3.04m deep there was evidence to suggest it was re-cut in the early fourth century on a smaller scale. (2) Subsequent observations at Linenhall Street in 1963 during construction work again encountered evidence of the Roman ditch indicating a possible re-cut feature. (3)

The rampart was separated from a substantial outer ditch by a flat area called a berm. The berm was about 1.8m wide and the primary ditch about 3m wide by 1.5m deep. At a later date the defences were further strengthened by the insertion of a stone revetment wall laid in regular courses each about 0.30m high against the outer face of the rampart. This measured about 1.5m wide by about 4.75m to wall walk level and was again surmounted by stone breastwork. The ditch was widened and deepened, perhaps up to 7m by 3m, although re-cutting has made the dimensions difficult to measure.

<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> Chester Archaeology, 1963, Linenhall Street Site Record (Unpublished Report). SCH6564.

<4> LeQuesne C, 1999, Excavations at Chester: The Roman and Later Defences Part I (Monograph). SCH6156.

<5> Chester Archaeological Society, Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society, Vol 54 p156 (Journal/Periodical). SCH1595.

<6> Longley D, 1977-1978, Longley Archive, /no.338 (Paper Archive). SCH2005.

<7> Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1911-Present, Journal of Roman Studies, Vol 53 p129 (Journal/Periodical). SCH1519.

<8> Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1911-Present, Journal of Roman Studies, Vol 40 p97-98 (Journal/Periodical). SCH1519.

<9> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, p122-127 (Book). SCH3556.

<10> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, 1981 SJ46NW18 (Index). SCH2487.