Monument record 9001 - Early Saxon East - West Road, 1 Abbey Green

Seemingly dating to the same time as construction of a large timber building at this location (CHER 9000), a road, metalled with small pebbles, running parallel to the Roman defences and overlying the tail of the Severan rampart was recorded. Evidence from other sites suggests that this road ran right round the fortress in much the same way as the earlier intervallum roads had cone (SCH5924). At this location the road was about 4 – 5.75m wide and lay about 8 – 9.5m from the inside face of the city walls. It was comprised of a substantial deposit of small to medium sized river cobbles with some tile and sandstone, and in some areas had a quantity of bone compressed into it. Where it was seen at the western end of the site defined by ECH2800, the surface was heavily rutted suggesting use by wheeled traffic. Evidence of repair and the laying down of secondary surfaces was also apparent. There was also less well preserved evidence of another surface, connected to this road but extending south, approximately in the centre of the excavation area. In general terms, the road appeared to be running around the inside of the former defences and could therefore be considered the successor to the Roman via sagularis. Note that Chester ware was recovered from the sediment immediately underlying this surface.

<1> McPeake J.C. Bulmer M & Rutter J.A, 1980, Excavations in the garden of No. 1 Abbey Green, Chester, 1975-77, McPeake J C Bulmer M & Rutter J 1980 63/14-37 (Article in Journal). SCH5924.

<2> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, 1/287 Thacker A 1987 (Book). SCH3556.

<3> Longley D, 1977-1978, Longley Archive, /no.412 (Paper Archive). SCH2005.

<4> Ward, S. W., 1994, Saxon Occupation within the Roman Fortress: Sites Excavated, 1971-81 (Archaeological Service Excavation & Survey Reports) (Monograph). SCH5486.