Monument record 8050 - Roman Activity at Black Friars

<1> Lawson, P H, 1926, Schedule of the Roman Remains of Chester with Maps and Plans, p184 No.77 (Article in Journal). SCH5956.

Remains of a possible Roman building were recorded at Black Friars during construction for a sewer in 1886. The work was carried out at the junction between Black Friars Lane and Nun’s Road when features were discovered beneath the centre of the road at a depth of 3.9m below ground level and some 19m east of the City Wall. More than one major period of construction was suggested.

<2> Thompson Watkin W. T., 1886, Roman Cheshire: A Description of Roman Remains in the County of Chester, p319-20 (Book). SCH2878.

Features identified comprised a hypocaust some 5.9m in length with evidence of walls c.90cm thick indicating a room with an external dimension of 6.7m. The western wall showed evidence of curving and has been interpreted as a bath. The hypocaust was found beneath the present road surface on an east-west alignment.

A total of twelve intact pilae were also recorded along with several partial ones together with two coins (one of Constantine) and a tile of Legio XX with a two-line stamp. The pilae comprised a base tile 40.5cm by 26.5cm followed by a series of seven tiles 20cm square capped by a single 30cm square tile and a single 43cm square tile. The pilae were 45cm apart resting on a lower level concrete floor. The internal pilae were composed of ceramic tiles while those closer the walls were stone.

The upper concrete floor was 15cm thick but only 1.6m in length, terminating in a square worked edge indicating a possible tessellated pavement.

The ground above the Roman remains was clearly made ground containing many residual fragments of Roman tile, animal and human bone and two coins.

A single fragmentary inscription ( A. OCO. PR) was recorded on one ceramic tile. It has been translated by Watkin has Sub Loco Praedii or Sub Loco Privato

<3> multiple authors, 1973, Excavation Reports and Summaries, p21 (Article in Journal). SCH5782.

Observation of contractors' foundation trenches on the south side of the west end of Black Friars in 1972 (SJ.40236598) failed to reveal further traces of this building

<5> Watkin W.T, 1887, Roman inscriptions discovered in Britain in 1886, p125 (Article in Journal). SCH6572.

<6> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, p175-176 (Book). SCH3556.

<7> Mason, D. J. P., 1978, The Extramural Area, p36-37 (Article in Journal). SCH6313.

<8> Watkin W.T, 1889, Recent discoveries in Lancashire and Cheshire, p53-55 (Article in Journal). SCH5965.