Monument record 8417 - Roman north-south track at Princess Street Phase 2b (insula 21)

Archaeological investigations between 1978 and 1982 as part of the Hunter Street/Princess Street excavations uncovered evidence of a north-south aligned track. The excavations, carried out over a period of 4 years, encountered substantial traces of four barrack blocks in insula 22 (CHER 8300; 8413; 8163 and 8391) the store buildings in insula 21 (CHER 8403; 8420) and the masonry structure in insula 16 (CHER 8312). (1)

The track was laid down over the second century metal working waste and may have served as an attempt at reclaiming this area. The surface itself comprised a roughly cambered spread of sandstone quarry waste approximately 6.5m wide. It does not appear to have been used extensively with unworn and un-rutted stones as well as traces of metal working debris across the track. (2)

A rectangular, free standing sandstone hearth like feature on the western edge of the track was also recorded. Evidence of burning was noted and it was interpreted as some kind of furnace associated with metal working. (2)

<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.

<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in the Princess Street, Hunter Street, Hunter's Walk and Northgate Street areas 1978-1987: Roman Major Buildings (Unpublished Report).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.