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 lying in two fields to the west of the lane
from Acres Lane to Upton Grange. The camp was first identified from an aerial
photograph taken in 1989 and confirmed in 1990. It is one of an important
group of five camps in the square kilometre to the west of Upton Grange.
The camp is rectangular in shape with rounded corners and measures 100m by
120m internally, with the longer sides running north to south. The area
enclosed by the camp is 1.2ha. In the southern half the camp is bisected by a
hedge boundary with a pond separating the two fields.
The camp is of medium size in the range of Roman earthwork camps and has
typical rounded corners in the shape of a playing card. The single outside
ditch will have a V-shaped cut and a rampart of earth and turf inside. The
camps were probably practice camps for the Roman troops stationed in the
fortress at Chester.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
25723
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
