Find Spot record 846/0/1 - Roman Hypocaust

Thirteen sandstone hypocaust pilae incorporated into garden retaining wall at Keeper's Cottage. A further pila was found some years ago in Black Firs Wood c.50-100m away. Previously the pilae had formed part of the scullery wall of the original cottage, built in 1782-3 & which was removed in 1931 to make way for the present house. Small exploratory trenches around the cottage in May 1980 revealed no evidence for Roman activity. The pilae were probably brought here from Chester, since in 1778-9 a large Roman building was found during house building in Lower Watergate St. Philip Egerton, the builder of Keeper's Cottage is reported to have removed tiles & pilae from this building & probably used them during the construction of Keeper's Cottage in 1782-3 (1). The pilae are 2ft 9ins high surmounted by an 11inch sq plinth with a central hollow 6ins in diam & 1inch deep (2).

<1> County Historic Environment Record, 1973-1985, Cheshire Archaeological Bulletin, 8/6-9 Mason D J P 1982 (Journal/Periodical). SCH565.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ56NE10 1976 (Index). SCH2487.

<3> Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1970-Present, Britannia, 12/333 Mason D J P 1981 (Journal/Periodical). SCH445.

<4> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, 1/232 Petch D F 1987 (Book). SCH3556.

<5> Longley D, 1977-1978, Longley Archive, /no.461 (Paper Archive). SCH2005.