[NY 70376680] Aesica Roman Fort.
[NY 70406677] Gold, Silver and Bronze objects found AD 1894. (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)
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)
Part of national monument number 26065, scheduling revised on 14th July 1997. Great Chesters Roman fort, known to the Romans as Aesica, is situated on a low ridge overlooking the Caw Burn to the west. It measures 129m by 109m across its ramparts and encloses an area of 1.36ha. It was one of the last forts to be built, being attached to the rear of the Wall, like Carrawburgh and was completed between AD128 and AD138. It is visible as a series of upstanding turf-covered remains. The most obvious features are the turf-covered ramparts and the defence ditches, there being no less than four on the most vulnerable west side. The buildings of Great Chesters farm overlie the north east corner of the fort. There have been a number of excavations of the fort, all of which have now been backfilled leaving amorphous mounds and depressions on the ground surface. These excavations have recorded the remains of the headquarters building, commanding officer's house, barrack blocks and lean-to structures against the inside of the fort walls. A vaulted chamber was discovered in the headquarters building which is on display in the centre of the fort. The west tower of the south gate has yielded an important hoard of jewellery which includes an enamelled brooch shaped as a hare and a gilded bronze brooch considered to be a masterpiece of Celtic art. A number of stone ballista balls were found beside the north west angle-tower when first excavated in 1894. A number of building inscriptions have also been discovered.
The exact location and extent of the cemeteries directly associated with this fort are not yet confirmed with certainty. There are two cemeteries to the south of the vallum which are the subject of separate schedulings. However, a burial mound (NY 76 NW 37) is located south west of the fort. Together with a number of inscribed tombstones found during excavation of the fort interior it seems that there was a cemetery associated with Great Chesters to the south of the vicus and north of the vallum, in addition to the known cemeteries at Wall Mill and Four Laws. (9)