Upton Grange Moat Temporary Camp

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.

Graham Soffe in 1989 was the first to recognise the Roman origins of this existing monument. The ditch of a small temporary camp was seemingly flooded during the Medieval period to form a Moat, which now survives only on the east side of the present Grange. The entire perimeter of this square camp may still be traced on the ground, apart from the NW angle which lies beneath the Grange buildings.

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

OSMap: LR117

OS National Grid Reference: SJ423691
Dimensions: c.360 x 360 ft (c.110 x 110 m)
Area: c. c.3 acres (c.1.2 ha)

Roman Roads near Upton Camps

None identified

Sites near Upton Grange Moat Temporary Camp