Find Spot record 8088/36 - Roman centurial stone from Newgate Street

<1> Gower F, 1768-1800, Foote Gower Manuscripts, p413 (Manuscript). SCH963.

<2> Hemingway, J., 1831, History of Chester, from its foundation to the present time. Volume 2, p397 (Book). SCH1412.

This 1831 publication describes the "Altar" as having been found in 1748, in a garden belonging to Mr Kenrick on the banks of the river Dee, subsequently in possesion of a Mr Ogden and fixed to the end of his garden wall in John Street and now preserved in the Chapter House of the Cathedral

<3> Botfield, Beriah, 1849, Notes on the cathedral libraries of England, p.57 (Book). SCH7947.

Roman Stone of the 20th legion, a stone inscribed with
COHI OCRAII
MAXIMI IMP

<4> British Archaeological Association, 1847-present, Journal of the British Archaeological Association, (1850)Vol V.p223 (Journal/Periodical). SCH1578.

Publication contains an illustration of the stone. Described as - It has evidently been a facing stone, probably in the city wall. It resmbles in character the centurial commemorations on the stones of the Great North Wall, and like them, apparently refers to the completion of a certain quantity of building.

<5> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, p376 (Book). SCH1389.

An Inscription preserved in the Chapterhouse of Chester Cathedral.
COH. C.OCRATI
MAXIMINI.M.P

Footnote - this Inscription is of the kind usually termed centurial , amd may be read "Cohortis Primae Centuria Ocratii Maximini Mille Passus" intimating that this century had perfomed so much of some public work. ………….If the inscription may be supposed to relate ti the erstion of the Roman walls od Chester, it is a relic of considerable interest.

<6> Thompson Watkin W. T., 1886, Roman Cheshire: A Description of Roman Remains in the County of Chester, p121 (Book). SCH2878.

Record of a centurial building stone of the first cohort found during digging ‘very deep’ in the garden of Mr Kenrick, on the east side of Newgate Street. Removed to a garden wall in St John Street and afterwards to the Chapter house of the cathedral. Removed to the Archaeological Society's Museum in 1883. inscription thought to relate to the erection of a portion of the wall and there is a discussion about the precise translation of the inscription by others.

<7> Haverfield, F, 1900, Catalogue of the Roman Sculptured stones in the Grosvenor Museum, No 16 (Article in Journal). SCH5530.

Centurial Stone, 24 inches long by 6 inches high. Found in 1748, probably between Newgate Street and the East Wall in which latter it probably stood.

Roman soldiers were frequently employed to build fortification, roads and the like and the fact is frequently recorded on inscriptions. In particular the facing stones of ramparts are often found to bear brief notices, seldom more than two lines long which give the century (described by its centurion) employed to build a perticular piece of wall. Such little records are called "Centurial Stones". The sign for "Centuria" is an inverted C.

<8> Lawson, P H, 1926, Schedule of the Roman Remains of Chester with Maps and Plans, No 45 (Article in Journal). SCH5956.

1748. Newgate Street, E. Garden of Mr Kenricks House ( now Messrs Storrar's). Centurial Stone: OCRATI MAXIMI. Museum

<9> Collingwood R G & Wright R P, 1965, The Roman Inscriptions of Britain: Volume I, RIB i 467 (Monograph). SCH3235.

Building Stone, 24x6 in(1/8), found in 1748 probably between Newgate Street and the East Wall, from which it probably came. Now in the Grosvenor Museum. LMP seem to be the initials of the soldier who cut the inscription.

Coh(ortis) I c(enturia) Ocrati
Maximi L(ucius) Mu(…) P(…)

"from the first cohort the century of Ocratius Maximus (built this); Lucius Mu(…) P(…) (made the Inscription)"

<10> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, p156 (Book). SCH3556.

A centurial Stone of the First Cohort found in digging "very Deep" in a garden on the east side of Newgate Street, possibly originated in the east wall of the fortress. Inscribed OCRATI MAXIMI, LMP at the end of the inscription appear to be the initials of the soldier who cut it .

<11> Henig D.F, 2004, Roman Sculpture in the NW Midlands, No 115 (Book). SCH6862.

115. Prov: Chester, probably between Newgate Street and East Wall, May 1748.

Loc: Formerly in garden in John Street, then Chapter House vestibule. Now in Grosvenor Museum, Chester.

Length 0.61m
Height 0.15m
Carved in relief, Sandstone

Inscription within rectangular moulded frame with ansate terminals, each of which contains a simple rosette.

<12> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Chester UAD Project Officer (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

This centurial stone was found in the vicinity of Barrack Block A on an east west progression from the fortress wall.