Roman Chester (1-400 AD)
FOUNDATION
There is little evidence to suggest that Chester was a significant place in pre-historic times. The city owes its origins to the Roman army, which in the mid-70s AD, established a Roman fortress here to consolidate the conquest of North Wales and North West England. The fortress was called Deva after the Celtic name for the river Dee.
The site was chosen for its strategic importance, carefully positioned on a low sandstone ridge, guarding the lowest crossing point of the Dee and having a fine natural harbour.
FORTRESS
The fortress defences enclosed an area of about 60 acres (24 hectares), rather larger than ohter legionary fortresses in Britain. In outline it was rectangular or 'playing card' in shape, with gateways on each side giving access to the four main streets. Three of these streets met at the central crossroads (now The Cross) in front of the massive principia or legionary headquarters building. Much of the rest of the space was occupied by rows of barrack blocks, baths, workshops and granaries.
Outside the defences and to the west lay the harbour, with warehouses and what may have been the homes of wealthy merchants. To the east were shops, workshops and taverns extending along the present Foregate Street. In about 100 AD,a huge amphitheatre, capable of seating 7,000 spectators, was built immediately outside the south eastern corner of the fortress wall.
With the exception of the baths and possibly the amphitheatre, the buildings of the fortress were originally constructed of timber and then gradually rebuilt in stone. The remains of a large Roman quarry can still be found in Edgar's Field, south of the river in Handbridge. Carved into an outcrop of rock is a shrine to Minerva, the protector of craftsmen.
SOLDIERS AND CIVILIANS
The fortress of Deva was first occupied by the Second Legion Adiutrix, who were replaced by the Twentieth Legion Valera Victrix in about 88 AD. Chester was one of only three permanent legionary bases in Britain; the others were at Carlaeon in South Wales and York. At full strength, there were 5,000 to 6,000 soldiers living within the fortress. However, large detachments of the legion were often required to serve elsewhere in Britain and other parts of the empire, so there were long periods when Deva was not fully occupied.
The soldiers in Chester were a cosmopolitan army. Inscriptions from Roman tombstones now in the Grosvenor Museum, show that they came from many different countries - Spain, France, Italy, Slovenia and even some from European and Asian Turkey. The population of the large civilian settlement which grew up outside the defences was equally mixed, including merchants, traders, craftsment, retired soldiers and the common-law families of soldiers who were not allow to marry until the late 2nd century AD.
DECLINE
The Roman occupation of Chester ended in about 370 AD. Although parts of the fortress were in decline, occupation of some area may have continued into the 5th century.
LEGACY
Today, the legacy of the Roman fortress can be traced through Chester's ground plan and street pattern. The northern and eastern Roman walls were incorporated into the medieval city walls. Both the Northgate and the Eastgate stand on the sites of their Roman predecessors. The main Roman streets have been perpetuated: Eastgate Street and Watergate Street follow the line of the via principalis, Bridge Street corresponds to the via praetoria and the northern part of Northgate Street aligns the via decumana.
With the exception of the Roman fortress walls, few legionary buildings survive. The most notable exception is the amphitheatre, now only half excavated, but currently the subject of on-going archaeological investigation.
Most of the other surviving fragments are to be found in cellars below buildings. The remains of the hypocaust system which heated the legionary bath house can be seen beneath 39 Bridge Street. Columns from headquarters building (principia) are preserved in the basement of 23 Northgate Street. The strong-room of the principia, which once safeguared the soldiers' pay, is preserved in situ in Hamilton Place. In the Roman Gardens near the amphitheatre is an outstanding collection of masonry fragments from Roman buildings, discovered in early excavations.