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 visible as a cropmark on aerial
photographs. These reveal a rectangular enclosure bounded by a ditch and
divided into two separate areas, lying in two fields on either side of Fox
Covert Lane. The camp is one of a group found in the fields to the east of
Chester City and is close to the camps at Upton. They are interpreted as
practice camps built by troops from the Roman garrison at Chester.
The camp measures 170m from north to south and 150m from east to west and is
overlaid by the lane surface running from the north east corner to a point
midway along the southern side which has destroyed the remains at this point.
Each of the remaining corners has the rounded shape of a typical Roman
earthwork camp.
By analogy with other camps the ditch would have had a V-cut about 3m wide
inside of which there would have been a rampart of earth about 6m wide at the
base. The rampart has been spread and the ditch infilled by later ploughing.
The interior will contain traces of temporary buildings and pits for latrines
and rubbish disposal.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
27597
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
