Monument record 1971 - Possible Roman building

<1> Mason, D. J. P., 1976, Chester Southerly by-pass 1975 (Excavations near Eaton Road, Eccleston),

https://doi.org/10.5284/1070226 (Article in Journal). SCH5909.

A rectangular building to the west of Watling Street; with dimensions of 29.2m x 11.4m (E-W, N-S). The foundations comprised a foundation slot filled with rubble, cobbles and pebbles set in clay. The walls had been faced with roughly hewn rectangular blocks of sandstone rubble and pebbles set in clay. Two entrances in E wall, 3m and 2.10m wide. No floor surfaces, nor internal features. A few sherds of Roman coarse pottery were found in the foundation material. Its isolated position, lack of internal and external features, absence of finds and size of entrance may indicate a function such as a store for agricultural produce and/or equipment

<2> County Historic Environment Record, 1973-1985, Cheshire Archaeological Bulletin, 4/26-27 Mason D 1976 (Journal/Periodical). SCH565.

The structure was positioned on an east-west alignment. Its overall dimenions were 29.2 metres east-west by 11.4 metres north-south. The foundations consisted of a slot 55 centimetres deep and 70 centimetres wide filled wth a mixture of sandstone rubble, small cobbles and pebbles set into stiff, yellow clay. Traces of the first couse level survived on two short sections of the foundation and these indicated the the wall had been faced with roughly hewn, rectangular blocks of sandstone which cntained a core of fine sandstone rubble and pebbles set in clay. Access to the interior of the structure was provided by two unequally sized entrances in the east wall. Any floor surfaces or internal structures had been destroyed by ploughing. Its isolated position, lack of internal and external features, absence of finds of all types and the sixe of its entrances may indicate a function such as a store for agricultutal produce and/or equipment.

<3> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, 1/217+232 1987 (Book). SCH3556.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ46SW33 1986 (Index). SCH2487.

Rubble foundations of a large rectangular building were revealed during road construction a few metres west of the modern Eaton road (SJ411631) in 1975. Much of the building was examined but robbing of masonry and ridge and furrow ploughing had totally removed all traces of the orginal floor surface and any internal features. The lack of Medieval pottery and the sites close proximity to the Roman Settlement suggest that the building might be Roman of second or third century date.

This structure was located st SJ4111 6305 not at Grid ref SJ411631 and has now been totally destroyed by constrcution of the dual carriageway.

<5> Longley D, 1977-1978, Longley Archive, /no.415 (Paper Archive). SCH2005.

<6> Anon, 1976, March 1976: North West Newsletter. Excavations (Article in Journal). SCH5748.