Return to Roman Ruins in Britain

Chester

Chester (Deva) was established in AD 79 to control the newly occupied areas of north Wales and was the home of Legio XX until the withdrawal of the garrison at the end of the third century. Rebuilding of the original earth and timber fort in stone began at the beginning of the second century. The Roman wall survives, as does the amphitheater, the largest in Britain. Only the arena wall is preserved, however, and it is curiously uninspiring. Nearby is a "Roman Garden," a collection of columns relocated there when many the flamboyant half-timbered black-and-white "Rows" were built in the Victorian era.

The Grosvenor Museum is known for its inscribed and sculptural tombstones.

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