The Amphitheatre

CHESTER'S stone-built amphitheatre is the largest yet discovered in Britain and stands as a lasting legacy of the city's Roman past.

The Amphitheatre dates back to the late 70s AD when the first timber-framed amphitheatre was built on the site by Legion II. The structure was then rebuilt in stone towards the end of the first century by Legion XX.

After a period of disuse, perhaps due to the temporary posting of Legion XX to help with the construction of Hadrian's Wall, work was continued at the site later in the second century. The site then remained in constant use, with the capcity to hold up to 8000 spectators, until it was abandoned around the year 350.

In its heyday the amphitheatre had many uses. It was used for training soldiers and as a showcase for displaying their military skills. It was also undoubtedly used for sporting events and entertainment - perhaps gladiator and beast shows.

Animal remains uncovered in the excavation included wild boar. Fragments of human remains were also discovered but historians believe they are more likely to be victims of an attack on the fortress than the losers of a fight-to-the-death gladiator battle.

There is no record of what happened on the site after the Romans left and the amphitheatre remained undiscovered for a thousand years.

In his 'Roman Cheshire' of 1889, W. Thompson Watkin wrote, 'There remains the interesting question, where was the amphitheatre? A station orcastrum of the dimensions of Deva would certainly have one'.

It was not until June 1929 that the amphitheatre was discovered by W J 'Walrus' Williams. There is evidence that the site was later used as a dumping ground. The excavation turned up brick rubble, wine bottles and broken pottery from the late 17th century.

The site soon came under threat from plans to build a new, straight road. But with the help of The Chester Archaeological Society and the then Ministry of Transport the site was saved.

Excavation work began after the Second World War with the government digging deep to help with finance.

Built outside the city walls to the south-east of the fortress, spectators in the amphitheatre would have had a commanding view of both the fortress and the surrounding countryside with the River Dee and the Welsh hills beyond.

The half excavated amphitheatre was opened to the public in 1972 - half still lies buried under modern buildings.

Any future plans to excavate the remaining half seem to have been scuppered by the work now being done on a court complex that will stand on the buried remains.

The decision by city chiefs to give the go-ahead to build the multi-million pound county court building has caused outrage among Chester residents and heritage campaigners.

City planners came under intense media scrutiny when the controversial plans came to light but it now seems certain that the remains of the amphitheatre will stay buried.

In their defence, developers David McLean insist that the remains will be unscathed by the court building with a number of measures being taken to ensure they are well protected.