Location
Chesters Roman Fort
Chesters Roman Fort was a Roman cavalry fort completed in the 120’s AD built to control the North Tyne River crossing near Chollerford. A cavalry fort was located here to control the road south of the Wall and to patrol Dere St 3 miles to the East The fort. is one of a series moved to the Wall soon after the wall was started. Remains of the Wall and a turret, which were demolished, have been found running through the fort.
Chesters Roman Fort Location crossing the north Tyne
Chesters was originally owned by John Clayton, who did a lot to conserve the Wall. He began excavations in 1843 but unfortunately, certain ruins were removed as they were not part of the original fort such as later granaries. The museum was built in 1903 and houses his collection from along the centre part of the wall.
Chesters Roman Fort housed an Ali (regiment) of ancillary cavalry with a strength of about 500. It is 5.75 acres 581 ft. by 430ft with 5ft thick wall surrounding the fort.
The north, east and west gates open to the north of the wall and lesser Eastgate was where the Military Way entered the fort
Northgate
Chesters Roman Fort Northgate
The north gate is set centrally in the fort’s north rampart. It was originally built with double portals 12ft wide separated by a spine wall and protected by guard turrets. The western entrance passage was blocked relatively soon after construction and blocking was removed during the excavations. An aqueduct enters the fort at this point. Its channel is covered with stone slabs.
The Barracks
Chesters Roman Fort Barracks
Barracks which we can see in the northeast corner of the site were built about 200 AD. Each block would house a turma (troop) of 30 men divided into 10 sections each with 3 houses and 3 troopers. At the far end would be accommodation for the officers. Originally there would have been 16 blocks in the fort. In the centre picture, you can see the drainage from each section.
The East Gates
CHESTERS ROMAN FORT EASTGATES
The East gates had both portals blocked.
The Lesser East gate had only one portal and is where the Military road entered the fort.
Headquarters Building
At the centre of the fort stands the Headquarters Building. This is the administration of the fort with its shrine and where the standards were kept. It is larger than the other Wall forts reflecting the status of a cavalry regiment.
CHESTERS ROMAN FORT HEADQUARTERS BUILDING
It consisted of a large courtyard in front of the main hall. There was a well in the courtyard, which was not the main water supply.
CHESTERS ROMAN FORT HEADQUARTERS BUILDING LOOKING WEST
Behind the main hall is the shrine, the strong room, and regimental offices
CHESTERS ROMAN FORT HEADQUARTERS BUILDING VAULT AND BACK OFFICES
The Commanding Officers House
East of the headquarters building is the commanding offices/ house, which is the largest building in the fort. It is difficult to interpret. It was a spacious house of courtyard type similar to the house the commanding officer probably had at home in the Mediterranean. The commanding officer (probably with the rank of perfect) would have brought his family and slaves during the 3 or so years he would serve in this post.
CHESTERS COMMANDER’S HOUSE, CHANGING I N THE LATER CENTURIES
There are several rooms with underfloor central heating. In later years additional buildings were added largely filling in the courtyard.
CHESTERS COMMANDERS HOUSE MODIFIED IN LATER CENTURIES
There is a bathhouse; it must have been at the pinnacle of Roman luxury in North East England at the time.
Other Gates and Turrets
South East Turret South Gate West Gate
This shows an example of an interval turret, the South Gate, with a portal blocked off and the West Gate with the Wall heading west.
The Bath House
It is south of the fort on the river bank. It was buried by build-up of slurry from the river and as a result, is one of the best-preserved Roman buildings in Britain. It was excavated in the1880’s. At Wallsend, a Roman Bath House has been re-constructed which is very similar to the one at Chesters but would have been better maintained.
CHESTERS ROMAN BATHS WITH SIMILAR WALLSEND REPLICA
The changing room is a large hall, which probably had other uses i.e. a gym. There are 7 niches where clothes could be stored. There are also cold rooms, hot rooms, a steam room and a hot water fountain.
CHESTERS RUINS OF THE ROMAN BATHS
Changing Room Fountain Warm Room
CHESTERS BATHHOUSE INTERIOR
WALLSEND BATH HOUSE HOT DRY ROOM
Heating is provided by underfloor hot which could also circulate through hollow box tiles placed in the walls. A furnace supplied hot gases heating the rooms and the water. The water was supplied from an aqueduct to bring water from upstream.
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The Bridges
CHESTERS 1ST ROMAN BRIDGE
A first bridge was built about 125AD and carried the wall over the North Tyne. It was about 10ft wide, which was the width of the board wall. It probably had a walkway along the top. It had 8 piers 13ft apart and was 200ft long. It was probably only 15ft high. It had stone arches. It was a plain substantial bridge, but whether it was substantial enough, has to be doubted.
The Tyne has a history of destroying bridges. In the late 18th century the bridges at Chollerford and Hexham were destroyed.
CHESTERS 2ND BRIDGE
In the last 2nd century a new bridge was built to carry the Military Way and the Wall over the river. This was a far more substantial bridge, similar to the bridge at Corbridge. One can only speculate whether there have been problems with the earlier bridge. It had four 33ft arches and the roadway was 33ft above the river and 189 ft. long. There was a substantial ramp in the east leading to a tower at the start of the bridge.
CHESTERS ROMAN BRIDGE
The river has moved 50ft west since the bridge was built and the eastern abutment is now high and dry.
Museum
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The highlights of the Museum can be found here
Chesters Roman Fort
There is also a gallery of photographs all with descriptions. Click to see
Inscriptions found on site HERE
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