Monument record 8202/4 - Evidence for the Roman North Wall at the Phoenix Tower

Following the discovery of substantial evidence of Roman material in the North Wall between 1883 (CHER 8202/5/2) and 1887 (CHER 8202/5/2) several attempts were made to examine the foundations of the present wall including the area of the Phoenix Tower at the north-east corner of the fortress. The work was carried out by Mr I M Jones, City Surveyor, and overseen by Mr C R Roach of the British Archaeological Association. (2)

Extensive evidence of repairs were noted during the investigations at the Phoenix Tower since the Civil War period at least when a breach in the wall was imperfectly repaired leading to its collapse in 1887 and it was at this time that the substantial quantities of Roman tombstones were recovered.

A trench then excavated close to this site of these discoveries encountering a substantial series of three courses of sandstone masonry standing some 0.85m high followed by a chamfered plinth above which the ashlar faced wall survives in situ to a height of five courses (1.5m) up to ground level. Above ground level the wall stands to a current height of 3.31m and 2.74m thick at the base. (2)

The date of construction of the stone revetment wall is disputed. It is possible that the southern and eastern sectors were started at the beginning of the second century, along with the towers, but that remaining sectors were not completed until the early third century. Evidence of two phases of reconstruction incorporating re-used stones has been found on all but the south side, accompanied in some cases by rubble in the ditch. It is suggested that reconstruction to the original width is to be dated to the start of the fourth century, but that doubling of the width may belong to the Saxon period.

<1> Jones, I Matthews, 1888, Official Report on the Discoveries of Roman remains at Chester, during the First Repairs to the North Wall, in 1887 (Article in Journal). SCH5568.

<2> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, p131-2 (Book). SCH3556.

<3> Lloyd-Morgan G., 1977, Mirrors in Roman Chester (Article in Journal). SCH5915.

<4> Strickland, T.J., 1983, The Defences of Roman Chester: a Note on Discoveries made on the North Wall, 1982 (Article in Journal). SCH5816.

<5> Lawson, P H, 1926, Schedule of the Roman Remains of Chester with Maps and Plans (Article in Journal). SCH5956.

<6> Shrubshole, George W, 1887, On the age of the City Walls of Chester (Article in Journal). SCH6532.

<7> Thompson, F.H., 1964, A History of Cheshire. Volume Two: Roman Cheshire, p28-29 (Book). SCH2862.

<8> Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1911-Present, Journal of Roman Studies, Vol 43 p111 (Journal/Periodical). SCH1519.

<9> Birch, W de Gray, 1887, On the discoveries made in the City Walls (Article in Journal). SCH6533.