Monument record 8422 - Roman east-west road between centurions houses at St Martin's Fields

The street surface comprised compacted cobblestone fragments with evidence of at least one period of resurfacing in the early second century when a new gutter was added to the east (1)

Archaeological investigations at St Martin’s Fields adjacent to the present central bus station recorded evidence of a street surface. At least six phases of activity could be identified on the site beginning with in the late first century with two phases of timber construction. In around 100 AD the first stone built structure was introduced to the site followed by a second phase of stone construction perhaps as little as 10 years later. This is followed by a period of abandonment or reduced activity characterised elsewhere as the mid second century ‘military hiatus’ period, which in this area appeared to last until the early third century. The final phase of activity from around 220AD onwards is characterised by the demolition of any structural remains and the construction of entirely new buildings however at this site significant post Roman truncation severely limited the survival of archaeological features from this period. (1)

<1> Chester Archaeology, 1964, Excavation Records for St Martin's Field, Chester (Unpublished Report). SCH6615.

<2> Chester Archaeology, 1989, Masonic Lodge, Hunter Street (Unpublished Report). SCH6614.