Monument record 8166 - Roman rampart building (No 28) at St Martin's Fields

Archaeological investigations at St Martin’s Fields to the rear of what is now the Forum shopping centre in 1945 identified evidence of a possible rampart building approximately 7.3m wide running parallel to, and cutting, the earth rampart. Faint traces of post pits were encountered indicating a possible timber phase of construction later replaced with stone foundations (1)

Subsequent investigations on the site in 1964-6 recorded further traces of this rampart building with the full plan of the structure revealed during site observations as well as in earlier trench excavations. Trench 4 encountered the south wall of the building surviving to a height of two courses (0.60m high) of sandstone blocks over a rubble core foundations while the east wall survived to a height of four courses. Trenches 2 and 5 both encountered the robbed out areas of the west wall. The width of the building was confirmed at 7.3m. Evidence of the interior of the building suggested three rooms with the northern most room measuring 7m, the central room being 4.27m and the southern room 6.5m in all forming a building some 21.35m in length. (2)

<1> Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1911-Present, Journal of Roman Studies, Vol 36 p136-40 (Journal/Periodical). SCH1519.

<2> Chester Archaeology, 1963, Linenhall Street Site Record (Unpublished Report). SCH6564.

<3> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, p152,157-8 (Book). SCH3556.

<4> Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1911-Present, Journal of Roman Studies, Vol 56 p200-1 (Journal/Periodical). SCH1519.