[NY 70376680] Aesica Roman Fort [G.S.].
[NY 70406677] Gold, Silver and Bronze objects found AD 1894 [T.I.]. (1)

The fort, completed in AD 127, measures 419ft by 355ft and faces east. A system of four ditches on the west side, overlain at the north end by the Wall, suggests that it was originally laid out with room for enlargement. The south and west gates, and north west and south west angle-towers, excavated in 1894-97, are exposed; and remains of several internal buildings visible. A hoard of late 2nd century jewellery was recovered from the western guard-chamber of the south gate, about 3ft from its north wall, during the excavations (3). The Roman name of the fort was Aesica. (2)

Published survey (25 inch) revised. The main rampart and ditch of the fort are well preserved; but the multiple ditch system on the west side is discernible, only, as a series of slight banks and superficial depressions. Internal remains, also, are generally poorly defined. Inferred find-spot of jewellery hoard at NY 70416675. (4)

Additional bibliography. (5)

Just under 8m of the north face of the north wall of the fort was exposed by excavation preparatory to the widening of the cattle unit. There was no opportunity to examine more than the face of the wall, which had been used as a foundation for the north end of a stone barn. The surviving fort wall here stood five courses high, including the foundations; the courses were regular, consisting in order upwards of single course of rounded cobble foundation, a course of flags on average 80mm thick, and three courses of facing stones which were on average 200, 180 and 150mm high respectively. The Roman masonry did not survive westwards beyond the end wall of the barn. The remains were drawn at 1:10 and photographed before the hardcore and concrete foundations for the extension to the cattle unit covered them. The remains are preserved in situ but not visible.
Pre-consolidation work carried out between September and November 1987 by CEU (P S Austen). A holding operation against the possibility of the fort at some future date passing into public guardianship, consolidation to be effective for approximately 10 years. A new drain was laid under archaeological supervision along north ditch. In 1984 c.8m of the north face of the north wall of the fort was exposed by excavation preparatory to the widening of the cattle unit. The face of the wall had been used as a foundation for the north end of a stone barn. The surviving fort wall here stood five courses high, including the foundations. The Roman masonry did not survive westwards beyond the end wall of the barn. Remains drawn at 1:10 and photographed before being covered with hardcore and concrete. Remains are preserved in situ but not visible. (6)

Resurveyed by RCHME January 1989: fort 1:500; bath house 1:100; south gateway 1:100; barrack block 1:100. (7)

The fort and interior details are clearly visible on thermal imagery. (8)

Scheduled. (9)

In 2009 consolidation works were carried out to the west gate, north guard chamber, north-west angle tower and the curtain wall at the north-west corner. Works variously involved remedial consolidation, rebuilding of exposed and unstable Roman fabric, and replacement of modern mortar and repair of turf capping. Comparison with a 1986 English Heritage stone-by-stone survey showed there had been very little loss of fabric in the areas to be consolidated. (10)

A re-examination of excavations across the vallum and the outer ditches of the fort in 1925 and 1950 demonstrate the existence of an original causeway across the vallum south of the fort, and so confirms Great Chesters as one of the primary forts on Hadrian's Wall. The possibility that the two outer ditches on the west side of the fort may correspond to those revealed in 1950-1 on the east strengthens the possibility that a larger fort was planned for this site than the one constructed. (11)

The Roman Fort of Great Chesters was surveyed by RCHME in response to a HBMC request to provide them with a plan as an aid to the implementation of future management policy on the site, and also as part of RCHME's continuing commitment to revising and updating the Hadrian's Wall field record. In the short term, the HBMC decision to backfill the early excavations of the Barrack Block, South Gateway and Bath-house which deteriorated and which were threatened with further erosion by stock prompted the immediate need to record these areas by large scale survey. These three zones were surveyed at a scale of 1:100 and the fort and its immediate environs at 1:500. (12a)

The fort of Great Chesters was recorded from aerial photographs at a scale of 1:10000 as part of the Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site Mapping Project. (12f-g)

Located on the English Heritage map of Hadrian's Wall 2010. (12h)

General association with HER 6480 (Great Chesters Aqueduct), HER 6503 (Chesters Pike), HER 6506 (Great Chesters Vicus), HER 6505 (Great Chesters Bath House), HER 6508 (findspot of two altars), HER 6507 (Great Chesters Roman Cemetery). (12)