Monument record 719/2/6 - Condate - Building (principia?) and well, north of Chester road

<1> University of Salford (Centre for Applied Archaeology), 2016, Rediscovering Roman Northwich. Phase 1: Assessment of the Archaeological Archive, p.11, 59; Fig 45 (plan of excavation) (Report). SCH8149.

An excavation undertaken in 1980 north of Chester road revealed the central courtyard of what could be the 'principia'. The inner-most walls were located (construction trenches) and were arranged around a central well, 2m in diameter and 2m deep; it had been back-filled with manure. It appears that the well and building had been re-used for industrial purposes possibly after the fort was abandoned.

<2> Jones G D B, 1992, Condate - Roman Northwich: The Last Hurrah, p.7 (Unpublished Document). SCH3820.

The principia must have lain underneath and either side of Chester road, with the internal road now directly superceded by modern paving. This means the western gateway lay under the pavement either side of Chester Road. Elements of the probable gateway were found still partly exposed in the cellar of Anne's Bakery on the south side of Chester Road.