Monument record 8395 - Roman Tribune House (praetentura west) at Watergate Street

Evidence of a possible tribune house was recorded during construction work to a cellar to the rear of No 11 Watergate Street (then the premises of Quellyn Roberts) in 1894. (1)

The works were observed by F H Williams who was first alerted to the site when several broken sandstone pilae and a portion of a column base were recorded leading to the discovery of further Roman remains. (1)

The first Roman evidence observed comprised two parallel walls on an east-west alignment c3.5m apart with a concrete floor between them. To the south of the second wall the discovery of several pilae made of roof tiles (some of which bore the legionary stamp LEG XX VV) and the base concrete floor indicate a hypocaust floor, although no trace of the upper floor (the suspensura) was found. (1)

To the south of the hypocaust area, a third wall on an east-west alignment was recorded on the southern edge of the cellar, believed to be the southern external wall of the tribune's house. Williams records two north-south aligned return walls approximately 3m apart, one of which had two bonding courses of tile [Wall C]. (1)

The most significant feature recorded, however, was a substantial apsidal wall at the south western corner of the cellar with traces of a mosaic floor comprising a black and white tessellated surface and the suggestion of the continuation of the hypocaust into this area. (1)

Evidence of a possible demolition layer thick with roof tile and flecks of charcoal suggest the buildings eventual demolition by fire. (1)

<1> Williams Frank.H., 1895, Deva: on some traces of a building discovered west of the Forum (Article in Journal). SCH6580.

<2> Lawson, P H, 1926, Schedule of the Roman Remains of Chester with Maps and Plans, No.26 (Article in Journal). SCH5956.

<3> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, p147 (Book). SCH3556.

<4> Williams Frank.H., 1895, Crypte Court, Watergate Street, Chester (Article in Journal). SCH6097.