Monument record 8470 - Amphitheatre 2

The amphitheatre at Chester is now known to have had two main phases during its period of use; the first of these being Amphitheatre 1, a stone and timber construction believed to have been built c AD 80 – 90 (CHER 8469), and Amphitheatre 2, built at an uncertain later date.

For clarity, Amphitheatre 2 is discussed according to its individual components: the outer stone wall (CHER 8470/1), the cavea or seating bank (CHER 8470/2), the arena floor and wall (CHER 8470/3), the Nemeseum or interior shrine to Nemesis (CHER 8470/4), the north entrance (CHER 8470/5), the east entrance (CHER 8470/6) and the minor entrances or vomitoria (CHER 8470/7), in addition to some external components such as the roadways to the north (CHER 8473) and south (CHER 8503).

A more detailed account of these components (with references) can be found in the individual records, however, similar to Amphitheatre 1, it appears that the outer wall and arena wall were established first, followed by the further excavation of the arena floor, using the upcast to build up the seating bank or cavea, covering the former timber frame of the first amphitheatre and its outer stone wall. This outer wall was about 2m further out from the first outer wall, was far more substantial and higher, and was decorated with pilasters and arches. The four main entrances are assumed to have been maintained but modified (such as the addition of a tribunal to the eastern entrance), and the minor entrances which provided access to the middle of the cavea (as opposed to the arena floor) were established. The Nemeseum, believed to replace the small external shrine of the first amphitheatre, became a buried room within the cavea, accessed from the arena floor near the north entrance. Towards the end of the Roman period, the amphitheatre was altered substantially, and these developments are summarised by CHER 8471.

Please see the individual records for detail and note that were reported finds could not be specifically attached to individual components, they were attached to this summary record. For A/P, see SMR Chester 28.

Historic England, 2018, Roman Amphitheatres, Theatres and Circuses: Introductions to Heritage Assets, p. 3-4 (Monograph). SCH9681.

<1> Chester Archaeological Society, Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society, Williams W J 1929 28/pt 2/218 (Journal/Periodical). SCH1595.

<2> Chester Archaeological Society, Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society, Newstead R 1932 29/5 & 66 (Journal/Periodical). SCH1595.

<3> Chester Archaeological Society, Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society, Newstead R 1936 31/pt 2/125 (Journal/Periodical). SCH1595.

<4> Chester Archaeological Society, Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society, Newstead R 1948 36/pt 2/99-107 (Journal/Periodical). SCH1595.

<5> Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1911-Present, Journal of Roman Studies, Wilson DR 1961 51/165-7 (Journal/Periodical). SCH1519.

<6> Thompson, F.H., 1964, A History of Cheshire. Volume Two: Roman Cheshire, /40-43 1965 (Book). SCH2862.

<7> The Society of Antiquities (London), 1770 - 1992, Archaeologia, 105/127-239 Thompson F H 1976 (Journal/Periodical). SCH307.

<8> Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1911-Present, Journal of Roman Studies, Wilson D R 1966 56/200-1 (Journal/Periodical). SCH1519.

<9> Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1911-Present, Journal of Roman Studies, Wilson D R 1967 57/186 & 203 (Journal/Periodical). SCH1519.

<10> Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1911-Present, Journal of Roman Studies, Wilson D R 1968 58/183-4 (Journal/Periodical). SCH1519.

<11> Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1911-Present, Journal of Roman Studies, Wilson D R 1969 59/210 (Journal/Periodical). SCH1519.

<12> Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1970-Present, Britannia, 1/282 Wilson D R 1970 (Journal/Periodical). SCH445.

<13> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, 1/165-167 Petch D F 1987 (Book). SCH3556.

<14> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, 1981 SJ46NW75 (Index). SCH2487.

<15> English Heritage, Various, Old/Original Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Description), /No.85 (Scheduling Record). SCH4606.

<16> Chester City Council Archaeology Service, 2005, The Past Uncovered (Newsletter). SCH6039.

<17> Wilmot, T & Garner, D, 2009, Excavations on the Legionary Amphitheaters of Chester (Deva), Britain (Article in Monograph). SCH5191.

<18> Gifford and Partners, 2001, Report on an archaeological excavation and watching brief at Dee House, Chester, R2665 (Client Report). SCH4776.

<19> Various, Various, Proposed plans and development frameworks (Unpublished Report). SCH6284.

<20> Lloyd-Morgan G., 1978, Some small Roman Bronzes in the Grovsenor Museum, Chester (Article in Journal). SCH5917.

<21> Donald Insall Associates, 2001, Chester Amphitheatre Conservation Plan (Parts I and II), R3613.1-2 (Report). SCH7555.

<22> Morris M. & Matthews K., 2000, Excavating Chester’s Amphitheatre (Article in Journal). SCH5774.

<23> Wilmott, T., 2009, Roman Amphitheatres and Spectacula: a 21st Century perspective (Monograph). SCH7100.

<24> GSB Prospection, 2002, Geophysical Survey Report 2002/09. Chester Amphitheatre Cheshire, R3799 (Client Report). SCH7873.