CHESTER AMPHITEATRE

History
Chester has the largest Roman amphitheatre in Britain, used Ior entertainment and military training
by the 20th Legion, based at the Iortress oI 'Deva' (Chester). Excavations by English Heritage and
the Council in 2004-5 revealed two successive stone-built amphitheatres with wooden seating. The
Iirst included access to the upper tiers oI seats via stairs on the rear wall, as at Pompeii, and had a
small shrine next to its north entrance. The second provided seat access via vaulted stairways. The
two buildings diIIered both Irom each other and Irom all other British amphitheatres, underlining
the importance oI Roman Chester.
Today, Chester's Roman amphitheatre is a shadow oI its Iormer glory. Trapped within the modern
urban landscape, it is diIIicult to picture the ancient ruin as the major city landmark it was more
than 1,600 years ago.
English Heritage
1
, Chester Renaissance
2
and Cheshire West and Chester Council have worked
together to improve access, landscaping and surroundings Ior this rare and important monument.
The amphitheatre is a Scheduled Ancient Monument owned by English Heritage and managed by
Cheshire West and Chester Council.

Recent Work
The presentation oI Chester's Roman amphitheatre has been improved:
O Reconstruction oI the Ioundations oI the walls oI the two successive amphitheatres
Iound during archaeological excavations in 2004-6, together with the base oI the timber
seating bank (Areas A and B).
O ResurIacing oI the arena, entrances and areas around the walls to match the original
materials.

1
English Heritage is the Government's statutory adviser on the historic environment. OIIicially known as the Historic
Buildings and Monuments Commission Ior England, we are an executive Non-Departmental Public Body sponsored by
the Department Ior Culture, Media and Sport. Our principal powers and responsibilities are set out in the National
Heritage Act (1983). The work oI English Heritage is overseen by a Chair and a board oI up to 16 Commissioners
appointed by the Secretary oI State. On a day-to-day level the organisation is run by an Executive Board. English
Heritage is Iunded partly by Government and partly Irom revenue earned Irom our historic properties and other
services.
2
The mission oI Chester Renaissance is: To drive momentum and bring added value to eIIorts to complete and
accelerate the economic growth oI Chester, working closely with private sector investors and public sector Iunding
bodies to celebrate the past and re-energise the Iuture.
Chester Renaissance's role is to support the eIIorts oI the partners to complete and accelerate economic growth oI the
city, working to ensure that delivery happens in a timely manner. Our work will contribute to the wider area oI the
Cheshire West and Chester Borough by providing a strengthened and Iocused capacity to deliver change and support its
partners. The opportunities Ior Chester are limitless and thereIore Chester Renaissance's plans are aspirational and
recognise the areas Ior opportunity whilst also being achievable.

O Construction oI a path around the outer wall oI the amphitheatre to link together all parts
oI the site and make it more accessible. This incorporates a bridge over the north entrance
with steps into the arena.
O Reopening oI the walkway across the middle oI the site and opening up Area B to the
public.
O Installation oI new signage and inIormation panels. These present the results oI the latest
discoveries about the amphitheatre and include a mural on the retaining wall at the back oI the
arena.



Following The Work
The site had previously been landscaped in 1972 aIter a series oI excavations Irom 1957 to 1969.
AIter over a generation this was inevitably looking tired. In addition, public interest led to large-
scale re-excavation between 2004 and 2006 and to a demand Ior the presentation oI the results oI
the recent work. These pages include an archive record oI the excavations and Iinds Irom 2000. The
amphitheatre is Chester`s most prominent Roman monument and attracts many thousands oI
visitors including schoolchildren every year. There was thus a clear need to overhaul the
landscaping oI the site, bringing the interpretation up to date and making it more attractive and
accessible.

History of discovery
Chester`s Roman amphitheatre was discovered in 1929, when a short stretch oI the curved outer
wall was discovered during construction oI an extension to the Ursuline convent (Dee House).
Excavations between 1930 and 1934 Ior the Chester Archaeological Society established the
northern limits oI the amphitheatre, the size oI the arena and the positions oI two oI the entrances.
The Iirst section oI amphitheatre wall to be discovered behind Dee House in 1929.
At this time Chester Corporation was planning to build a new road that would remove the awkward
bends oI Little St John Street. This would have run across the middle oI the amphitheatre. AIter
much campaigning and negotiation, the Ministry oI Transport vetoed the planned new road. The
Chester Archaeological Society bought St John`s House, an eighteenth-century town house
occupying much oI the northern halI oI the site, while Chester Corporation agreed to purchase
adjoining properties. This ensured that the northern halI oI the amphitheatre could be excavated
once money was available and allowed the worst oI the bends in the road to be removed while still
avoiding the site.
The conclusion drawn Irom the 1957-1969 excavations was that the amphitheatre had Iirst been
built entirely oI timber, probably at the same time as the Ioundation oI the legionary Iortress in the
70s oI the Iirst century AD. About AD 100 this was replaced by a stone amphitheatre with two
outer walls; this survived until the Iourth century.
Small-scale excavation by Chester City Council`s Archaeological Service between 2000 and 2003
showed that these conclusions might well be wrong. Much larger scale re-excavation by the City
Council and English Heritage between 2004 and 2006 showed that the inner wall and the timber
seating both belonged to the Iirst amphitheatre, while the outer stone wall belonged to a later
version oI the structure.
Area A oI the amphitheatre during excavation in 2006, showing the outer walls oI successive
versions oI the amphitheatre. The slots leIt by ground beams oI the timber seating can be seen on
the leIt.
AIter the end oI Roman rule it is possible that the amphitheatre was converted into a IortiIied base
Ior a local warlord. Later, the east entrance may have been turned into the crypt oI the original,
seventh-century, St John`s Church.

The amphitheatre is a Scheduled Ancient Monument owned by English Heritage and managed by
Cheshire West and Chester Council.

EDGAR'S FIELD

Edgar's Field is a public park in Chester's southern suburb oI Handbridge. It lies immediately south
oI the River Dee near to the southern end oI the Old Dee Bridge.
The park occupies 2/ acres (approx. 1 hectare) oI land. It has a rich history. It was once a Roman
quarry which provided the vast quantity oI stone needed to build the Iortress walls and buildings. It
is home to a Roman shrine to the goddess Minerva. Part oI the park is designated as a Regionally
Important Geodiversity Site (RIGS).
MINERVA`S SHRINE

On the sandstone outcrop towards the centre oI the park is the Roman Shrine to the goddess
Minerva. It is carved into the rock Iace and is now the only monument oI its kind in Western
Europe that remains in its original location.
Minerva was the Roman goddess oI war, knowledge, learning, craItsmanship and the arts. She
would, thereIore, have been seen as an important protector oI the Romans working in the quarry.
The carving has weathered over time so that the Iigure oI the goddess is now only a Iaint outline.
Also, it has been subject to some pretty harsh treatment over the years. This has included it being
accidentally hit by practice riIle shooting during the Second World War, Ior which it still bears pit
marks. It is said that the shrine might only have survived the Middle Ages because it was thought to
be an image oI the Virgin Mary.
In Roman times Minerva's characteristic warlike clothing with helmet, spear and shield together
with her symbol oI an owl would have been very obvious and probably painted. OIIerings would
have been leIt at the shrine to gain help and protection - possibly on an altar at its base.
Next to the carving is an opening into the rock Iace. This is possibly a natural Iissure that was
enlarged aIter the shrine was cut. It is now known as 'Edgar's Cave'.


THE HISTORY OF CHESTER`S ROMAN FORT

Known to the Romans as 'Cilurnum', Chester`s Fort was built to guard the Roman bridge which
carried Hadrian's Wall and the military road over the River North Tyne: its bridge abutments can
still be seen. Chester`s was one oI the series oI permanent Iorts added during the construction oI the
Wall: occupied Ior nearly three centuries, it housed a garrison oI some 500 troops, by the 3rd
century a cavalry regiment Irom Asturias in northern Spain.
There is much still to see here, including the remains oI all Iour principal gates; the headquarters
building with courtyard, hall and regimental shrine; and the elaborate and luxurious commandant's
house. Even better preserved, between the Iort and the river, is the garrison's bath house. This still
clearly displays the complex oI rooms which oIIered soldiers hot, cold or steam baths, as well as a
changing-room cum club house with niches Ior statues or altars oI gods-including Fortuna,
patroness oI Roman gamblers.

Altars and inscriptions to the many deities oI the Roman army are among the hundreds oI
archaeological discoveries Irom the central section oI the Wall-including Vindolanda, Housesteads
and Carrawburgh Iorts-crowded into the wonderIul museum here. Retrieved by the Victorian
antiquarian John Clayton, their setting has now been restored to its appearance in 1900.





SITOGRAFIA
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