Monument record 8404 - Roman barrack type block at the 'Elliptical' Building

A long building on an east-west alignment occupied the northern part of the area set aside for the elliptical building. The building appeared to be similar in design to a barrack block being approximately 7.50m wide and 54m long extending for the full length of the adjacent elliptical building. Internally the building was divided into an estimated 15 suites of rooms by the insertion of a long internal spine wall on an east-west alignment and a series of shorter partition walls on a north-south alignment. Each suite of 2 rooms comprised a larger space 4m wide and an outer room 2.3m wide. Traces of a veranda were also recorded to the north of the block. (1)

The excavated features of the early timber framed building comprised a series of beam slots and post holes primarily at the eastern end of the structure encountered during recorded observations in 1965. A series of post pits along the northern frontage indicate the presence of a veranda. (1)

Subsequent excavations on the site carried out in 1968 recorded evidence of a stone built structure replacing the timber framed building in the early second century. Although the superstructure remained essentially the same there was some reorganisation of the internal space with the removal of the final two partition walls at the eastern end creating a semi open space with a colonnaded north face. A substantial hearth was then inserted into the centre of this space. Quantities of metal working debris, in particular iron waste was recorded surrounding the hearth. The remaining number of rooms also appear to have been reduced as the rooms were extended from 3.30m in width to 4.90m leaving just seven pairs of rooms, although the internal space was effectively reduced as the walls were made thicker.(1)

In the early third century the building was largely rebuilt in tandem with the major programme of rebuilding across the fortress in general. Evidence of a new colonnade along the north frontage was recorded during investigations in 1965 indicating columns of an unusual form. Only the plinth and column base itself was recorded comprising a sandstone plinth 0.80m square and 0.20m thick and a column base comprising a 0.60m square block at the bottom tapering to 0.36m at the top. Examples of this were recorded in 1939, 1965 and again in 1968. (1)

Understanding the function of this building is more problematic, although similar in design to the barrack blocks at Chester it is somewhat more narrow than the typical example (7m as opposed to 8.5m) and it appears in isolation. It has been suggested that this block housed either specialists of the Roman army or perhaps the legionary cavalry although if this was the case then there was likely no provision for the quarters of the commanding officer. Another theory put forward is that this block was intended to for the production and sale of goods (1)

<1> Mason, D. J. P., 2000, Excavations at Chester: The Elliptical building: An image of the Roman world? (Monograph). SCH6158.

<2> Petch D.F, 1970-71, Excavations on the site of the Old Market Hall, Chester, second summary report. 1968-70 (Article in Journal). SCH5898.

<3> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, p144 & 149 (Book). SCH3556.

<4> Strickland, T.J., 1978, The Fortress in the Second and Third Centuries, p18-22 (Article in Journal). SCH6312.

<5> Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1911-Present, Journal of Roman Studies, Vol 56 p200-1 (Journal/Periodical). SCH1519.