Monument record 8321/1 - Possible Roman workshop at Crook Street

Observations of a trench cut across Crook Street in 1971 recorded evidence of a 10m wide road (CHER 8322) on a north-south alignment adjacent to the elliptical building. To the west of this road, a section of a parallel wall was recorded including traces of a doorway leading into an area paved with slate and sandstone slabs. (1)

The area to the west of the Elliptical building, known as insula 18, is believed to have been devoted to workshops based on abundant deposits of slag and other industrial waste. The plan conjectured from slight evidence was of large sheds surrounding a central court. The south range was 12m wide and the court behind it 25.5m; the north range at 23m may have had some form of basilican layout. The insula as a whole measured 60m north-south x c.70m east-west. (5)

<1> Hassall M, Wilson D. & Wright R., 1971, Roman Britian in 1970 (Article in Journal). SCH6531.

<2> Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1911-Present, Journal of Roman Studies, Vol 55 p204 (Journal/Periodical). SCH1519.

<3> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, p144-45 (Book). SCH3556.

<4> Thompson Watkin W. T., 1886, Roman Cheshire: A Description of Roman Remains in the County of Chester, p129 (Book). SCH2878.

<5> Mason, D. J. P., 2001, Roman Chester: City of the Eagles, p140 (Book). SCH6164.