Upton-by-Chester Marching Camp 3
Marching or Temporary Camp
The Upton Group consists of seven camps, the northernmost of which lies at Picton, about a third of a mile (c.600m) ENE of Upton Camp 5, while the southernmost (Camp 6) at Upton Recreation Centre lies just 660 feet (200m) north of the main Roman road between Chester and Wilderspool about two miles north-east of the fortress.
Found sometime before 1964, this camp was at first thought to be a “Civil War redoubt”, occupied during the siege of Chester in 1645?. The camp is known only from its NE corner-angle, with about 280 feet (c.85m) of the N side and 380 feet (c.115m) of the E. An earthwork survey published in 1994 showed that the angle had survived as a slight earthwork standing 1 foot (0.3m) high. Evaluation excavations the same year recorded a V-shaped ditch about 3¼ft. deep and 6¼ft. wide (0.97 x 1.9m), which showed evidence of rapid silting.
References for Upton Camps
- A Note on New Evidence from Aerial Reconnaissance for Roman Military Sites in Cheshire by Robert A Philpott in Britannia xxix (1998) pp.341-353;
- a copy of O.S. Landranger map 117 Chester and Wrexham would also be of benefit.
Map References for Upton Camps
Upton-by-Cheshire High School / Upton Heath
OSMap: LR117
OS Reference: SJ 46 NW 22
NMRC Unique Identifier: 69053
Dimensions: c.380+ x 280+ ft (c.115+ x 85+ m)
Area: c.2½+ acres (c.1+ ha)
Roman Roads near Upton Camps
None identified
Sites near Upton-by-Chester Marching Camp 3
Colonia, Minor Settlement and Triumphal Arches
Legionary Fort and Major Settlement
Minor Settlement
Claudian Auxiliary Fort (AD 43–54), Temple Or Shrine and Vicus
Claudian Auxiliary Fort (AD 43–54) and Vicus
Minor Settlement and Roman-Building
British Civita and Probable Vexillation Fort
Mutatione?, Pottery, Roman Burg and Vexillation Fort
Auxiliary Fort
Claudian Auxiliary Fort (AD 43–54), Flavian Auxiliary Fort (AD 69–96) and Vicus