Monument record 11036 - Medieval and Post Medieval Cess / Rubbish Pits, Arena of Amphitheatre

During excavations in the arena floor area of the Roman amphitheatre between 1965 and 1969, various medieval features were revealed. In this area, a dozen rock-cut and masonry-lined cess pits and rubbish pits were found (2). Their concentration in the south part of the site suggested to the excavators they may have been dug at the ends of the gardens belonging to the properties which fronted onto Little St John St. These houses would themselves have been built on the higher and firmer ground of the seating bank, and it seems probable that the former arena floor was relatively underdeveloped at the time. One stone-lined cess pit incorporated reused architectural fragments, probably from a medieval window. Finds from the pits include medieval and post medieval pottery, medieval roof and paving tiles (2). Please see (2) for a detailed description of each feature.

<1> Newstead, R (Prof.), 1932, The Roman Amphitheatre at Chester, Newstead R & Droop J P 1932 29/38-40 (Article in Journal). SCH5708.

<2> Thompson A, 1975, The excavations of the Roman amphitheatre at Chester, 105/127-239 Thompson F H 1976 (Article in Journal). SCH6162.