Reasons for Designation
Roman camps are rectangular or sub-rectangular enclosures which were
constructed and used by Roman soldiers either when out on campaign or as
practice camps; most campaign camps were only temporary overnight bases and
few were used for longer periods. They were bounded by a single earthen
rampart and outer ditch and in plan are always straight-sided with rounded
corners. Normally they have between one and four entrances, although as many
as eleven have been recorded. Such entrances were usually centrally placed in
the sides of the camp and were often protected by additional defensive
outworks. Roman camps are found throughout much of England, although most
known examples lie in the midlands and north. Around 140 examples have been
identified and, as one of the various types of defensive enclosure built by
the Roman Army, particularly in hostile upland and frontier areas, they
provide an important insight into Roman military strategy and organisation.
All well-preserved examples are identified as being of national importance.
Details
The monument includes a Roman camp recognised as a cropmark by aerial
photography and just visible as a standing earthwork in two fields on Stamford
Heath near Christleton. The earthworks stand no more than 0.3m high and have
been reduced by ploughing in the northern half. The site is overlaid by narrow
ridge and furrow, the remains of earlier cultivation, in the southern half.
This part is now under permanent pasture. A pond marked on the tithe award map
is now filled in but its site is marked by a very slight hollow in the south
west quarter of the enclosure. This pond post dates the period of use of the
camp. The site is 200m south of the Roman road whose course is followed by the
modern Tarvin Road.
The camp measures 120m internally from north to south and 85m from east to
west. It is rectangular with the north west corner rounded in the playing
card shape of a typical Roman earthwork camp. The other corners, although
not visible, will also be rounded and the south west corner lies under the
hedgerow of the surrounding field. The bank is 8m wide at the base and stands
to a maximum of 0.3m high. The ditch is outside this rampart and is traceable
all around the rampart. It measures 3m wide and 0.1m deep. No entrances have
been found but comparison with other Roman camps would suggest that they will
be located in the mid-point of each side. The area enclosed by rampart and
ditch is 1.02ha which is comparable to the smaller of the enclosures on Upton
Heath to the north east of Chester 4km away.
The modern field boundaries are not included in the scheduling, although the
ground beneath is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
25729
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals Other
Legal
This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. This entry is a copy, the original is held by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
End of official list entry
