Monument record 8403/2 - Roman walled compound at Princess Street phase 5 (insula 21)

<1> Strickland, T.J., 1983, Chester: Excavations in the Princess Street / Hunter Street Area, 1978-1982. A First Report on Discoveries of the Roman Period (Article in Journal). SCH5815.

The area to the north of the elliptical building comprised a large area at least 100m by 50m (termed insula 21) and contained several substantial buildings, the first of these was a narrow east-west aligned range along the south side of the area facing the elliptical building (CHER 8419), this structure was approximately 35-40m long and fronted by a colonnaded portico. A second narrow range with its long axis on a north-south alignment (CHER 8420) then appeared to then extend for approximately the full length of the area, it too had a colonnaded portico. Both of these structures appeared to remain more or less throughout the Roman period. The remaining space to the rear of these two structures had a somewhat more complicated history with a courtyard style structure (CHER 8403/1) built in the early Roman period immediately behind the east-west narrow range and later extended to include an enclosed courtyard covering the remaining space to the north (CHER 8403/2).

<2> Strickland, T.J., 1988, Excavations in the Princess Street, Hunter Street, Hunter's Walk and Northgate Street areas 1978-1987: Roman Major Buildings (Unpublished Report). SCH6857.

The reconstructed plan of the building suggests a walled compound comprising a large forecourt, two flanking north-south ranges to either side of the forecourt, an east-west range at the north side of the forecourt containing a substantial entrance and a small inner walled courtyard to the north of the east-west range.

The roughly paved forecourt appears to have been approximately 22m square with a substantial wall providing the southern boundary. The inner walled courtyard was accessed from the large entrance passage of the east-west range. And comprised a worn surface of mixed sandstone and cobbling.

The east-west range was more completely excavated with evidence of five internal partition walls indicating seven rooms of roughly equal size on an east to west progression. Two rooms showed evidence of further subdivision either side of the central space of the range interpreted as the main entrance.

Extending south from either end of the south range was two further ranges, this time on a north-south alignment. Although the foundations only indicated two rooms in each range, it is possible that these continued as far south as the east-west range facing the elliptical building (CHER 8419). Following the excavations, it was originally interpreted by the excavator that the two north-south ranges terminated after just two rooms and a road separated it from the east-west range to the south.

In the early fourth century the appearance and function of the building changed somewhat – the southern ranges underwent only minor alterations including new partition walls and re-surfacing that can be attributed to repair and maintenance. The north large courtyard however underwent more drastic alteration implying a change in function with the subdivision of the northern end of the courtyard.

Understanding the function of this structure is problematic due to the paucity of finds, no evidence of metal working or residential activity was recorded. It is possible that it represented cavalry quarters with the large courtyard in use as an arena or exercise yard and the ranges to the south as living quarters or storage, however no trace of stabling was encountered and this does not explain the lack of finds. An alternative interpretation is that it was used as for legionary foot drill, however in this case there is no explanation for the south ranges and again this does not explain the lack of finds.

<3> Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1970-Present, Britannia, Vol 14 p297 (Journal/Periodical). SCH445.

<4> multiple authors, 1980/81, Excavation Reports and Sites Observed (Article in Journal). SCH5806.

<5> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, p162-3 (Book). SCH3556.