Monument record 8267 - Roman Structure B at Trinity Street (First Cohort)

Archaeological investigations at Trinity Street identified traces of a Roman structure on a north south alignment. Although located within the insula allocated to the First Cohort of the Roman legion stationed at Chester, the structure appears to be too narrow to be a typical barrack building. The accommodation of the First Cohort at Chester is currently poorly understood; it appears to have consisted of at least 5 barracks of normal type and 5 single-range buildings on a north south alignment with a narrow range at the western end on an east-west alignment.

The excavated evidence from 1950 consisted of two parallel walls approximately 3-3.5m apart with a large number of pits recorded to the east suggestive of a veranda. Although no clear trace of an earlier timber phase construction was identified, the eastern wall appeared to have two phases of construction with a later, poorer quality, wall.

The evidence was interpreted by the excavator as forming part of a narrow range approximately 6m wide with a possible veranda 2m wide on the east face. A number of Roman pits are cut into both the proposed internal space and the veranda. It is also shorter than many of the other structures in the insula by approximately 8m at its northern end to accommodate a narrow east-west aligned range.

At least two phases of Roman surfacing was recorded along with several sandstone blocks that may represent a collapsed internal wall during excavations in 2006 approximately 12m to the south. Traces of lime plaster were recovered from the sandstone blocks implying a well appointed room while copious amounts of ceramic building material indicate the structure had a tiled roof.

The First Cohort was double strength in the first century AD under the command of 5 centurions, and continued thereafter to be stronger than the other cohorts. It was situated on the right-hand side of the headquarters building. At Chester its accommodation is currently poorly understood; it appears to have consisted of at least 5 barracks of normal type and 5 single-range buildings. The buildings at the eastern end of the cohort are yet to be interpreted satisfactorily. There is room for 6 buildings in the position reserved for centurions' quarters.

<1> Webster, Graham, 1956, Excavation of the Roman Remains East of Trinity Street (Article in Journal). SCH5741.

<2> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, p153 (Book). SCH3556.

<3> Earthworks Archaeological Services, 2007, Performing Arts Centre, Area of Proposed Orchestra Pit at Hamilton House, Trinity Street, Chester, R3216 (Client Report). SCH6544.