Monument record 8408 - Roman Fortress 'Elliptical' Building (Severan construction)

The Severan reconstruction of the ‘Elliptical’ building retained many of the primary elements of the earlier building (CHER 8160) and in many cases the later walls directly overlay that of the first century structure. Again the basic design covered an area of 41.60m by 33.20m however the central oval courtyard (CHER 8408/3) now included a portico in place of the individual columns with an east-west aligned drain leading directly to the central monument. The north (CHER 8408/2) and south (CHER 8408/1) ranges now comprised six rooms built on a larger scale than its predecessor with a more substantial front wall. The east and west passageways leading into the courtyard area were now also more substantial forming one room as part of the inner range and a second room on the street frontage separated into two bays. The street frontages also took on a slightly different appearance comprising two long bays either side of the central passage (CHER 8408/4 & 8408/5). (1)

The area of the elliptical building has been subjective to extensive archaeological investigation beginning in 1939 when the first traces of the structure were encountered by Prof Newstead to the rear of the Town Hall. A more extensive period of excavation was carried out in the 1960s as part of the central redevelopment programme that involved widespread demolition of many of the existing buildings including the old Market Hall (later replaced by the Forum Shopping Centre). More recently excavations in Hamilton Place in the 1990s have also encountered parts of the elliptical building complex.(1)
The reconstruction of the elliptical building appears to have begun sometime in the first half of the third century and remained in use throughout the remainder of the Roman period. (1)

The architectural sophistication of the Elliptical building points to it being a high status area, as well as the fact that it was one of the few buildings in the fortress to be built in stone at such an early date – most were originally built in timber and then gradually replaced. The total lack of comparatively structured buildings in fortresses across the Roman empire makes the interpretation of function different. Proposed theories have included palace, theatre, indoor market (macellum), officer’s club, exercise yard, and temple. Mason suggests it may have been an administrative building such as a the legionary archive or perhaps the market hall (1)

<1> Mason, D. J. P., 2000, Excavations at Chester: The Elliptical building: An image of the Roman world? (Monograph). SCH6158.

<2> Newstead, R and J P Droop, 1939, Excavations at Chester, 1939. The Princess Street Clearance Area (Article in Journal). SCH5707.

<3> Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1911-Present, Journal of Roman Studies, Vol 54 p156 (Journal/Periodical). SCH1519.

<4> Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1911-Present, Journal of Roman Studies, Vol 58 p183 (Journal/Periodical). SCH1519.

<5> Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1970-Present, Britannia, Vol 1 p292 (Journal/Periodical). SCH445.

<6> Jones B., 1996, Squaring the Circle – parallels for the Chester ‘Elliptical Building’ (Article in Journal). SCH5770.

<7> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, p142-144 (Book). SCH3556.

<8> Lloyd-Morgan G., 1977, Mirrors in Roman Chester (Article in Journal). SCH5915.

<9> Petch D.F, 1970-71, Excavations on the site of the Old Market Hall, Chester, second summary report. 1968-70 (Article in Journal). SCH5898.

<10> Anon, 1969, Abstract of Proceedings (Article in Journal). SCH5897.

<11> Anon, 1968, Abstract of Proceedings (Article in Journal). SCH5893.

<13> Petch A.J, 1978, Introduction (Article in Journal). SCH6309.

<14> n/a, 1940, Abstract of Proceedings (Article in Journal). SCH5755.

<15> n/a, 1939, Abstract of Proceedings (Article in Journal). SCH5706.

<16> Petch D.F, 1968, The Praetorium at Deva (Article in Journal). SCH5889.

<17> Petch A.J, 1978, The Major Buildings of the Fortress (Article in Journal). SCH6311.

<18> Mason, D. J. P., 1996, An elliptical peristyle building the fortress of Deva (Article in Journal). SCH6064.

<19> Thompson, F.H., 1964, A History of Cheshire. Volume Two: Roman Cheshire (Book). SCH2862.

<20> Mason, D. J. P., 2002, The Foundation of the Legionary Fortress: Deva, the Flavians and Imperial Symbolism (Article in Monograph). SCH6079.