Monument record 8213/5 - Evidence for the Roman West Rampart at Linenhall Street

Excavations at Linenhall Street in 1949 aimed to identify the defensives of the Roman fortress. A single trench excavated across the expected line of the defences identified the turf rampart surviving to a height of 1.85m. The composition of the rampart comprised a concentration of turves towards the front and back of the feature with a core of successive layers of sand and clay supported by occasional layers of turves. The base of the rampart was further supported by a layer of timber strapping at the base to prevent movement. (1)

Subsequent excavations carried out in Linenhall Street between 1961 and 1962 by F H Thompson of the Grosvenor Museum recorded further evidence of the Roman defensive system. In all 24 trenches were excavated across a substantial area with the aim of establishing the exact line and composition of the Roman defences on the western side of the fortress. The first century rampart was encountered extending for just 14ft rather than the normal 5.8m. (2)

Observations on the development works for the inner ring road were then carried out between 1963-4 at Linenhall Street with further traces of the earth rampart encountered over an area of approximately 130m north of Holy Trinity Church. Here it could be seen that the rampart was reasonably well preserved. A similar pattern of construction as in the 1949 section was confirmed for much of this area. The full width of the rampart was recorded at 5.8m although its survival varied in height between 0.90m at the northern end to 2.44m at the southern end. (3)

The defences of the Roman fortress comprised several components: The rampart (artificial bank), built in the late first century, consisted of a core of sand, clay or rubble held in place to the front and rear by revetments of stacked turves. It was set on a base of close-set transverse logs and measured approx 6m wide by perhaps 3m high. The top of the rampart would have been flattened to create a walkway that could be patrolled and would have had been protected by a wooden palisade. In all the defences defined a rectangular space some 592m long and 411m wide.

<1> Webster, Graham, 1953, Excavations on the Legionary Defences at Chester, 1949-52 (Part ii) (Article in Journal). SCH5727.

<2> Thompson F.H, 1969, Excavations at Linenhall Street, Chester 1961-62 (Article in Journal). SCH5894.

<3> Chester Archaeology, 1963, Linenhall Street Site Record (Unpublished Report). SCH6564.

<4> LeQuesne C, 1999, Excavations at Chester: The Roman and Later Defences Part I (Monograph). SCH6156.

<5> Chester Archaeological Society, Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society, Vol 54 p156 (Journal/Periodical). SCH1595.

<6> Lloyd-Morgan G., 1978, Some small Roman Bronzes in the Grovsenor Museum, Chester (Article in Journal). SCH5917.

<7> Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1911-Present, Journal of Roman Studies, Vol 53 p129 (Journal/Periodical). SCH1519.

<8> Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1911-Present, Journal of Roman Studies, Vol 40 p97-98 (Journal/Periodical). SCH1519.

<9> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, p122-127 (Book). SCH3556.

<10> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, 1981 SJ46NW18 (Index). SCH2487.

<11> Longley D, 1977-1978, Longley Archive, /no.338 (Paper Archive). SCH2005.