Upton-by-Chester Marching Camp 1

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.

Discovered on aerial photographs taken on 18th August 1986, this camp was investigated on the ground in July 1987, when trial trenching revealed a typical Roman military V-shaped ditch 4¾ feet (1.45m) deep and 5¼ feet (1.6m) wide, with evidence of rapid silting. An earthwork survey conducted by the RCHME in 1989 recorded the ditch surviving as a slight depression between 8 inches and 1 foot deep (0.2-0.3m), fronted by a low counterscarp bank, with the internal rampart surviving to the dizzying height of around 12 inches (0.3m). About 70% of the perimeter of this camp can be traced, including the SW, SE and NE corner-angles, each with attached lengths of rampart. No gateways may be readily identified.

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

NGRef: SJ4169 OSMap: LR117

OS National Grid Reference: SJ418695
Dimensions: c.480 x 417 ft (146 x 127 m)
Area: c.4½ acres (c.1.86 ha)

NMRC Unique Identifier: 1083055; 1031510; 931535

Roman Roads near Upton Camps

None identified

Sites near Upton-by-Chester Marching Camp 1
  • Colonia Camulodunum (Colchester)
    Colonia, Minor Settlement and Triumphal Arches
  • Chester (Deva) Roman Fortress
    Legionary Fort and Major Settlement
  • Wixoe
    Minor Settlement
  • Cambridge (Duroliponte) Roman Fort
    Claudian Auxiliary Fort (AD 43–54), Temple Or Shrine and Vicus
  • Godmanchester (Durovigutum) Roman Fort
    Claudian Auxiliary Fort (AD 43–54) and Vicus
  • Medbourne
    Minor Settlement and Roman-Building
  • Leicester (Ratae Coritanorvm) Roman Town
    British Civita and Probable Vexillation Fort
  • Mancetter (Manduessedum) Vexillation Fort
    Mutatione?, Pottery, Roman Burg and Vexillation Fort
  • Eaton House (Pennocrucium) Roman Fort
    Auxiliary Fort
  • Whitchurch (Mediolanum) Roman Fort
    Claudian Auxiliary Fort (AD 43–54), Flavian Auxiliary Fort (AD 69–96) and Vicus