Monument record 9044 - Masonry Possibly Related to Saxon St John's Church, Amphitheatre Site

During excavations within the eastern entrance of the amphitheatre site in 2001 and 2002, masonry walls inserted into the inner part of the entrance, reducing its width, were examined (1) (after having been previously recorded by the 1960s excavators, (2)). Previously interpreted as a Roman alteration, or the base for an official box, its masonry has since been compared with seventh century examples found in church crypts in York and Northumberland; because nearby St John's Church is thought to have been founded in 689, it is possible that this work is related to the church (1).

<1> Chester Archaeology, 2002, Chester Amphitheatre Excavations; May-July 2001 and May-July 2002. (Client Report). SCH4817.

<2> Thompson A, 1975, The excavations of the Roman amphitheatre at Chester (Article in Journal). SCH6162.

<3> Chester City Council Archaeology Service, 2001, The Past Uncovered (Newsletter). SCH6029.