Chester le Street Roman Fort
The Roman name was Concangis, probably derived from “horse”
Location
Chester-le-Street-Roman-Fort-Location
Chester le Street Roman Fort is situated on a Roman road heading south from Newcastle, on the East bank of the River Wear. It was probably built to control the crossing of the river. This became the Great North Road (A1 M) the main road north after Roman occupation. How important the road was in Roman times it is difficult to ascertain. This is the only fort on this road, north of York.
Chester-le-Street-Roman-Fort-south-of-the-town-centre-
The location was identified from excavation reports following excavations in 1981 and 1997. A modern church stands on the site of the Headquarters Building. The land was granted to the Church in the 7th century, where the remains of St Cuthbert were located before they were relocated to Durham Cathedral.
History
Chester Le Street Roman Fort was originally a turf and wood fort probably built in 70s AD as part of the conquest of Northern Britain by Cerialis with suppression of the Brigantes. The turf wall had a ditch in front of it. This was identified during the fairly recent excavations, although it could not be a surprise.
This was replaced by a stone fort probably in the first half of 2nd century. It was built by the 2nd Legion. Certain changes were made in the 3rd century
The fort was occupied into the 4th century. As a cavalry fort, it would have been used to police what became the Great Northern Road.
Description
St Mary & St-Cuthberts-Church-built-on-the-HQ-building-of-the-Fort
Chester Le Street Roman Fort was over 6 acres measuring 540 ft by 500 ft. It was larger than all forts on the Wall bar one, Stanwix at Carlisle; although the site has been excavated second half of the 20th century it was limited because the fort was in the middle of the town. For example, the Headquarters Building is under the church as previously indicated. One area that was excavated was the officers’ barracks in the NW corner of the fort. Surprisingly this was built of dressed stone, while the troopers were housed in wooden buildings.
Some of these remains are visible south of the Parish Centre across the road from the church.
Chester-le-Street-Roman-Fort-Officers quarters
Garrison
The Fort was garrisoned by a cavalry cohort, which cannot be identified. It probably consisted of 16 turma of cavalry, each with 32 troopers.
Civil Settlement
The only evidence of the civil settlement is that the finds over an area of 25 acres whereas the fort only covered 6 acres.
Anker’s House a Small Museum
To the left of the church main entrance is a small door, leading to what was a religious recluse until 1547,it is now a small museum with a number of artefacts, some Roman. If it is locked enquire at Parish Centre across the road. Here are two of the artefacts:
Roman-Dedication-Chester-le-Street
Romano-British-Altar-Chester-le-Street
Inscriptions from the fort can be found HERE.