Monument record 8160 - Roman Fortress 'Elliptical' Building (Flavian construction)

The basic design of the Elliptical Building at Chester covered an area of approximately 41.60m x 33.20m and comprised a central oval courtyard 14m x 9.75m surrounded by a colonnade of ten columns approximately 4m deep (CHER 8160/3). The oval courtyard was then itself surrounded by an oval range divided into twelve rooms of varying widths from between 7.32m and 9.15m (south range CHER 8160/1) and 6.10m to 10.36m (north range (CHER 8160/2). This arrangement was divided into a north and south half by an east-west passage 1.8m wide from the street frontage to the centre of the oval. The area of the oval structure was then returned to a rectangular form by the addition of three rooms to the rear of the range in each ‘corner’ of the oval.

To the east and west of the central structure there were ranges of open colonnaded street frontages comprising eight pier bases in addition to the 41.60m width of the structure itself (CHER 8160/4 and CHER 8160/5). The depth of each range was approximately 5.20m with the eight piers marking out six rooms – three to either side of the east-west passage ways.

In addition to the elliptical building itself, a number of other structures were built including a small bath complex to the south east (CHER 8161), a tabernae or building to the south west (CHER 8405) and a barrack type block to the north (CHER 8404). Although these structures were built around the same time and appeared to have some connection to the elliptical building however, they continued in use – to some extent – throughout the Roman period.

The area of the elliptical building has been subjective to extensive archaeological investigation beginning in 1939 when the first traces of the structure were encountered by Prof Newstead to the rear of the Town Hall. A more extensive period of excavation was carried out in the 1960s as part of the central redevelopment programme that involved widespread demolition of many of the existing buildings including the old Market Hall (later replaced by the Forum Shopping Centre). More recently excavations in Hamilton Place in the 1990s have also encountered parts of the elliptical building complex.

The Flavian fortress at Chester is believed to have been under construction certainly by AD 79, this date being repeated on many lead water pipes and inscriptions throughout the fortress while there is no definite evidence for the fortress predating AD 74. It is apparent from the evidence of the elliptical building that the original structure was constructed in tandem with the Flavian fortress, however the evidence also suggests that the building remained unfinished and by the end of the first century had been largely replaced by workshops (CHER 8406).

During the mid third century the fortress underwent a major programme of renewal and it was then that the elliptical building was finally completed, albeit to a slightly different design (CHER 8408).

The architectural sophistication of the Elliptical building points to it being a high status area, as well as the fact that it was one of the few buildings in the fortress to be built in stone at such an early date – most were originally built in timber and then gradually replaced. The total lack of comparatively structured buildings in fortresses across the Roman empire makes the interpretation of function different. Proposed theories have included palace, theatre, market, officer’s club, exercise yard, and temple. The Flavian building was never completed and, although doubtless intended to be symmetrical, mistakes appear to have been made when laying out the northern half. In some places foundations had been laid out but no masonry had been set upon them, and in others the masonry had not progressed above ground level. No surfaces or floors, nor even the make-up for them, had been laid down in the interior of the building. The bath building, judging from its completed drainage system and later modifications, appears to have been completed and used.

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

<2> Newstead, R and J P Droop, 1939, Excavations at Chester, 1939. The Princess Street Clearance Area (Article in Journal). SCH5707.

<3> Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1911-Present, Journal of Roman Studies, Vol 54 p156 (Journal/Periodical). SCH1519.

<4> Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1911-Present, Journal of Roman Studies, Vol 58 p183 (Journal/Periodical). SCH1519.

<5> Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1970-Present, Britannia, Vol 1 p292 (Journal/Periodical). SCH445.

<6> Jones B., 1996, Squaring the Circle – parallels for the Chester ‘Elliptical Building’ (Article in Journal). SCH5770.

<7> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, p142-144 (Book). SCH3556.

<8> Lloyd-Morgan G., 1977, Mirrors in Roman Chester (Article in Journal). SCH5915.

<9> Petch D.F, 1970-71, Excavations on the site of the Old Market Hall, Chester, second summary report. 1968-70 (Article in Journal). SCH5898.

<10> Anon, 1969, Abstract of Proceedings (Article in Journal). SCH5897.

<11> Anon, 1968, Abstract of Proceedings (Article in Journal). SCH5893.

<13> Petch A.J, 1978, Introduction (Article in Journal). SCH6309.

<14> n/a, 1940, Abstract of Proceedings (Article in Journal). SCH5755.

<15> n/a, 1939, Abstract of Proceedings (Article in Journal). SCH5706.

<16> Petch D.F, 1968, The Praetorium at Deva (Article in Journal). SCH5889.

<17> Petch A.J, 1978, The Major Buildings of the Fortress (Article in Journal). SCH6311.

<18> Mason, D. J. P., 1996, An elliptical peristyle building the fortress of Deva (Article in Journal). SCH6064.

<19> Thompson, F.H., 1964, A History of Cheshire. Volume Two: Roman Cheshire (Book). SCH2862.

<20> Mason, D. J. P., 2002, The Foundation of the Legionary Fortress: Deva, the Flavians and Imperial Symbolism (Article in Monograph). SCH6079.

<21> Mason, D. J. P., 2002, The Foundation of the Legionary Fortress: Deva, the Flavians and Imperial Symbolism, p40-45 (Article in Monograph). SCH6079.