Monument record 8326 - Mid second century 'military hiatus’ period at the Grosvenor Centre (phase 3)

A series of archaeological investigations carried out as part of the construction of the Grosvenor Shopping Centre between 1963 and 1965 comprised three evaluation trenches cut to the rear of No 14-22 Newgate Street along with subsequent observations of the construction work. The work was carried out by Mr Petch of the Grosvenor Museum however the excavations have never been published in full.

The second phase of construction was followed by a period of inactivity in the area coinciding with the military hiatus period encountered elsewhere in the fortress between 130-170AD. Although the buildings were not demolished a number of rubbish pits were cut across the site along with spreads of waste across the internal floors. (1)

The excavations encountered the south end of two north-south aligned barrack blocks (CHER 8425 & 8400) and a centurion’s house (CHER 8442). The evidence was sufficient to identify a number of phases of Roman activity beginning in the late first century and the initial construction of the buildings in timber. The second phase of activity in the early second century comprised a new construction utilising stone foundations and a timber superstructure on a slightly different alignment to phase 1 followed by a period of limited activity comprising small scale pitting across the area (CHER 8553). This was followed by a restoration of activity until around 190 AD utilising the existing structures. A second, more significant period of abandonment then occurred until around 220 AD (CHER 8252) before the final period of Roman activity lasting until the mid 4th century. (1)

<1> Chester Archaeology, 1962-64, Excavation Archive: Newgate Street-Pepper Street, Chester (Unpublished Report). SCH6728.