Monument record 8185 - Roman Granary at Hunter Street

Evidence for an early Roman granary was recorded on Hunter Street during a series of excavations between 1982-84 and more recently during excavations in 1996. The initial discovery of a substantial structure of a Roman date was made during archaeological investigations to the north side of the street in 1982 when instead of encountering the expected barrack block several substantial stone walls on an east-west alignment were recorded. (1) Walls from the western end and northwest corner of the building were recorded (3)

Subsequent excavations in 1983 recorded further traces of a stone structure with extensive evidence of an underlying timber phase of construction (CHER 8577). The stone building appears to have been built in the mid second century, replacing the earlier timber building The north external wall contained a number of reused column bases and capitals thought to have come from a barrack veranda. The stone phase survived at least until the early medieval period at least although it may have fallen derelict at a late Roman stage. The evidence would suggest this structure was a granary similar to those recorded to the south at Commonhall Street (CHER 8334-8336) however in this case there were no similar structures recorded nearby. (2)

Later archaeological investigations carried out to the east in 1996 recorded further evidence of a substantial Roman structure interpreted as the eastern part of the granary (CHER 8512) however it is not clear how these sites relate (4)

<1> multiple authors, 1982, Excavation Reports and Sites Observed, p38-39 (Article in Journal). SCH5808.

<2> multiple authors, 1983, Excavation Reports and Sites Observed, p53-54; p40 (Article in Journal). SCH5810.

<3> Frere, S., 1983, Roman Britain in 1982, p297 (Article in Journal). SCH7115.

<4> Chester Archaeology, 1996, Chester 6 Hunter Street 1996 Watching Brief, R2150 (Client Report). SCH4062.

<5> Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1970-Present, Britannia, 14/297 Frere S S 1983 (Journal/Periodical). SCH445.

<6> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, p145 (Book). SCH3556.