Find Spot record 8088/28 - Roman altar from Eastgate Street

In 1861 a fine altar was dug up behind some new premises erected by Messrs Dutton & Miller in Eastgate Street. It lay in "a bed of solid soil some 13 ft below the surface" on the east side of Godstall Lane. It was dedicated to the genius of the century by an optio and is 0.8m high with carvings on either side. On the right side, an axe and a knife and on the left a jug and patera (1). Altar is dated to the late second to early third century. (7)

The findspot c.21.5m north of Eastgate Street was presumably in or near a centurion's house (2) Other finds from this area have suggested that this cohort block belonged to the Third Cohort. This altar was found in the vicinity of Centurial House F (CHER 8397) on an east west progression from the fortress wall.

The Roman altar was frequently found in homes, markets, public buildings and sacred spaces, often within a shrine or niche in the wall of the building. They are frequently inscribed with a dedication to a deity as well as decorated with carved sculptures. The presence of an altar dedicated to a century (a unit of 80 men of the Roman army) often suggests the presence of a barrack building nearby.

RIB i 448

<1> Thompson Watkin W. T., 1886, Roman Cheshire: A Description of Roman Remains in the County of Chester, p180-181 (Book). SCH2878.

<2> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, p155 (Book). SCH3556.

<3> n/a, 1864, A Brief Abstract of the Proceedings of the Society, p406 (Article in Journal). SCH5525.

<4> Lawson, P H, 1926, Schedule of the Roman Remains of Chester with Maps and Plans, No 23 (Article in Journal). SCH5956.

<5> Haverfield, F, 1900, Catalogue of the Roman Sculptured stones in the Grosvenor Museum, No 2 (Article in Journal). SCH5530.

<6> Collingwood R G & Wright R P, 1965, The Roman Inscriptions of Britain: Volume I, RIB i 448 (Monograph). SCH3235.

<7> Henig D.F, 2004, Roman Sculpture in the NW Midlands, No 5 (Book). SCH6862.

<8> Shrubsole, George W, 1886, Catalogue of the Roman Altars, No 16 (Book). SCH6540.

<9> Newstead, R (Prof.), 1899, Discovery of Roman remains in Bridge Street, 1899 (Article in Journal). SCH5529.