DEVA VICTRIX, Chester's In situ Roman Remains, Part 1

Almost Two thousand years ago Deva Victrix lay at the centre of Romano Britain. Today, the modern city of Chester completely covers the ancient settlement, but even in the 21st century clues exist to give tantalising glimpses of the remains of the legionary fortress. In this explore, I venture above and below ground to see what exists of the former home of the Legio XX Valeria Victrix.

[@serendipitytrace]

Great video, there is so much to see in Chester! Would love to see Handsbridge and the Minerva Shine just across the bridge by the children's park... Chester is the best!

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Hi Tracey, thank you for your comments. Plenty more Roman stuff to reveal in next part. Yes Chester is the best.

[@lizsmith8305]

This was brilliant. I walk past all these sites regularly and wish more was done to uncover our hidden history!

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Thank you Liz, I totally agree, Chester council's priority's appear to lie in another direction, considering it is a very tourist orientated city.

[@simon-rl6wd]

if you had turned left at the bottom of the roodee steps there are anchoring points in the walls. be interested to see your coverage of the watertower part of the walls. there are a few sections of building that have never been open to the public, but i understand some are now open. these formed the old port to the dee before the river moced further into wales. i grew up in chester but necer saw the 2 places within the coffee shops. thanks for sharing. i would love to see the hidden parts of shops on the rows and along st werburgh street abd northgate street. i was always fascinated by the somewhat hidden statue of dee bridge which is embedded into the embankment below the short section of walls the runs next to the castle. someone at the court told me theres a tunnel running from the courts to the river, passing under the castle. great video. look forwars to part 2.

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Thanks Si, Chester is such a gold mine of history, covering a whole multitude of time frames. The city centre is a tapestry of interwoven history, but picking the relevant stuff out is great fun. I shall have to investigate the alleged tunnel.

[@simon-rl6wd]

@@PASTFINDERexploring there is something gated off within the castle grounds. but the court clerk clearly stated it ran from the courtroom and was to transfer the convicted to an awaiting boat. i was in the room where the brady and hindley moors murders case was held. the wiki pages claim the tunnels are mostly a myth but it seems odd for someone working at the court to say it if untrue. i lived in chester until my 30s yet discovered more about it after moving away.

[@paolorossi9180]

Salve Deva Victrix.Good video,greetings from Rome

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Salve Paolo Rossi, Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it and greetings from Deva Victrix.

[@FlexibleFlyer50]

I will never get to see these remains in person, and I appreciate your narration and all the relevant info about these Roman places. Wonderful that they've been preserved.

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Thank you Susan, for your kind comments, don't forget Part 2 is already on the channel with the 3rd part out this friday.

[@simon-rl6wd]

There is one confirmed tunnel at Chester Castle which led from the Military Gaol between the Military Museum and Castle Street to the courts. This has been blocked-off. There are many rumours of further passages having one end at the castle but none have been confirmed. Some are said to be the work of "Richard the Engineer" who was one of Edward I's castle builders in North Wales and built a house for himself in Lower Bridge Street. Another existing "tunnel" is the sally port steps which lead through the Castle walls to an exit which can be seen today in the river-facing wall of the castle. These are possibly intended for provisions to be brought-up from the River Dee.

[@simon-rl6wd]

after a bit of searching, it seems the hole you found at the race course is called Roman Quay. it is thought to be for drainage.

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Well done Si, How did you find that out?

[@lionelmarytravels6003]

Thanks for that very informative look at the old Roman remains in Chester. Certainly a great deal of history there if you know where to look. Chester is a place I've wanted to visit for some time now.

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Thank you, it's a beautiful city and my home. Not just Roman but much visible medieval, Civil war and victorian.

[@alexure313]

Been down to Chester many times Masonic visits but never got the chance too explore Chester, came down in Aug 2022 for a short break but seems like I've missed all the hidden treasure, thanks for sharing.

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Thanks Alex, It's the reason I do the channel. Most people just go to the obvious attractions.

[@alexure313]

@@PASTFINDERexploring so much history there and its in plain sight if you know where too look fantastic city.

[@nigellunn8019]

That's given me something to think about Bob, I'm planning a visit to Chester soon. 👍

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Glad to have been of service Nige. Let me know when you're here and maybe I could give you a tour of the best non touristy spots. Oh and a coffee'

[@Joecosby1]

Absolutely loved this.... I was literally just in the Chester area for a few days and got a taste of the Roman Era.... I will be back in the next year or so and will use your video's as a guide....

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Hi Joseph, thank you for your kind comments. Part 2 will be out in November/December. Keep an eye out.

[@angeloargentieri5605]

Wonderful, la grandezza, la potenza, la magnificenza e la gloria di ROMA EST AETERNA, ROMA INVICTA ET LUX MUNDI 💪💯

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

D'accordo, questa magnifica civiltà fiorente 2000 anni prima di noi è sorprendente. "Salve Legio XX Valeria Victrix"

[@redkelly1188]

Thank you for posting, always Find Chester amazing

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Superb place isn't it? With a wealth of history from Roman right up to victorian.

[@redkelly1188]

Please post more as Chester has so much history

[@redkelly1188]

@@PASTFINDERexploring Is there an email I can write to you? As I've spent many years researching Chester and the surrounding area, as far as Warrington and into north Wales also.

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

@@redkelly1188 part 2 of this series is already on my channel along with films on the Bridge of Sighs, Chester Port and local railway explores. I am putting part 3 of Roman series together right now.

[@redkelly1188]

@@PASTFINDERexploring watched it and the 1930 news one that's on KZbin

[@theoztreecrasher2647]

Thank you for giving me another visit to Chester and showing all the things that I missed as a casual tourist in 2010. 🙂

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Hi, It's a pleasure. Maybe you'll come back again some time and see them in person.

[@theoztreecrasher2647]

@@PASTFINDERexploring Regretfully not a chance I'm afraid. The advancing years deny it. But the memories remain (for the moment!) 🙂

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

@@theoztreecrasher2647 That's a shame. I shall endeavour to relay as much of my wonderful home town as I can. Keep an eye on the channel. I have railway, English Civil war and more Roman stuff coming.

[@peebeedee6757]

The two 'holes' you found in the harbour wall by the Roodee, could these be drainage outfalls from the upper levels. One appears to be blocked in.

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Never thought of that. That's a real possibility.

[@marcinbukwas2438]

Thank You for your work and time to do this video. Very very interesting 🫡

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Thank you. I thoroughly enjoy making these vids and the kind comments makes it all the more worthwhile. Thank you also for subscribing. Appreciated.

[@lazyhazeldaisy9596]

Very interesting, thank you.

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Thank you for watching.

[@northwalesbunkhouse]

Thanks very interesting.

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Thanks James

[@rhonataylor85]

I’ve always thought that Chester doesn’t value its amazing Roman heritage. It should have a museum as good as those at Cirencester and Verulamium. Wake up Chester!

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Hi Rhona. I couldn't agree more. We do have the Deva centre which is definitely worth a visit, but the council certainly do not promote our heritage and history as it should.

[@bennettj99]

Brilliant video. Only just come across your channel, will now watch the other episodes and more on your channel. It is my view, as a native of the City, that the Listed status of Dee House should be removed. It is totally dilapidated and was only a school in it’s previous history. Far better to demolish it and complete the excavation of the rest of the Amphitheater, which in my humble opinion is far more important to the history of Dewa.

[@jrob5891]

Glad to see this up, I remember talking to you by the strong room while I was at work

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Hi Justin, I remember our conversation very well, thoroughly enjoyed talking to you. Took a while to get this one up and running. Needed to find quiet times to visit certain places.

[@NefariousEnough]

Magnificent!! Thank you! 🍻

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Thank you

[@barbaraprest783]

Very enjoyable 👏

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Thank you Barbara. The next part will be out on Dec 30th.

[@soulseller1838]

This is wonderful, i am so looking forward to seeing more, thank you.

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Thank you. I'm working on the next part right now. Keep an eye out.

[@fhwolthuis]

Very interesting, great video 👍🏻👍🏻

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Thank you Frank, appreciate your comments.

[@m.asquino7403]

Wow, love this so much! Thanks for sharing

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it. Don't forget to watch part 2 . Out on the channel now.

[@andrewtolley3706]

Thank you. Are you aware of the reconstructed Temple pf Mithras/Strongroom directly opposite the Cathedral? It's down one of the side streets adjacent to the old town hall. Thank you for sharing

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Hi Andrew, thanks for your comments. Yes I am aware of it. It features in Part 2, which is out on the 30th.

[@sabinedma]

Sehr interessant, danke!!

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Vielen Dank, schön, dass es Ihnen gefallen hat.

[@westaussie965]

Having been to Pompeii last year and looking at the Google maps of it, I’m surprised that this looks similar 3:26

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Hi Nicky, just looked at Pompeii from above. Yes there are similarities. The vast majority of Roman settlements were built with roads constructed along parallel grid lines. Modern Chester still follows those Romans road lines.

[@anthonymoore6009]

Fascinating, looking forward to lots more in future parts.

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Thanks. There is plenty to come, although some maybe harder to get to than others, what with them being in a closed and boarded shop.

[@terencewise7349]

The holes in the harbour wall may have been drain exits?

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Hi Terence, I think they are situated a bit high for drain holes, particularly as it's on a slope, there isn't anywhere for water to drain away to. Although I can't be certain.

[@ShafManTV]

I hope I don't sound picky There is no V Sound in Latin, its pronounced W So, its pronounced Dewa wictrix Great vid.. Thank you

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Thanks, you are of course correct. I have adopted as such in part 2. It's all a learning curve.

[@ShafManTV]

@@PASTFINDERexploring brilliant... Thank you... Really enjoyed the video... I visit Chester quite often, I love the place... Keep up the great work.. All the best 👍🏼

[@RalphEllis]

The elliptical building in Fortress Dewa is a Temple of the Zodiac. Or more precisely, it was a Vesica Piscis shape and therefor a Temple of Pisces. (Note: the precessional Great Month of Pisces began in AD 10.) So where else in the Empire do we find precessional zodiacs? Ah yes, the Nazarene Jews venerated the zodiac in Judaea, which is why we get so many zodiacs in synagogues - like at Hamat Teverya and Huqoq in Galilee. And the Chester Temple of the Zodiac was designed in Egyptian royal cubits - the same measurement system used by the Jews, as it says in the Torah. Ok, so now we know what the Chester fortress really was for. It was a vast 1st century Guantanamo Bay, built by Emperor Vespasian to hold the dangerous rebel leaders from the Jewish Revolt. (It was built a year after the Revolt ended.). Rome wanted to keep these rebel leaders (the kings and princes of Adiabene-Edessa) as far from their power base in the East as possible. And they did not want to kill them, as happened with the British Druids, and spark a massive revolt like the Icenae Revolt, which happened only ten years previously. So they built Fortress Dewa; a Guantanamo Bay with a separate: accommodation block, exercise yard, bath house, and Temple of the Zodiac - to hold rebel leaders from the Jewish Revolt. Note: The elliptical Temple was destroyed in AD 110, after all the rebel leaders had died (of old age). But the eliptical Temple of the Zodiac was rebuilt in AD 222, after Emperor Elagabalus was deposed. Why? Because Elagabalus was a Galilean eunuch, and priest of the sacred Elagabal stone - and thus he was of exactly the same religion as the 1st century Galilean rebels of the Jewish Revolt. So the priests and administrators of Elagabalus’ regime (and Elagabalus himself?) were similarly exiled to Fortress Dewa. And to keep him and his religion happy, the Romans rebuilt the Temple of the Zodiac. And although it was a slightly different shape (fatter) it was again designed and built in Egypto-Israelite royal cubits. Ralph

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Thanks Ralph, very concise and informative

[@JammyDodger45]

What a load of speculative made up rubbish

[@stephenleighton6349]

I know where there is another one on watergate Street.

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Please do tell Stephen.

[@marcinbukwas2438]

Also subscribe your channel 👍🏻

[@skiptrailer7048]

italians in skirts

[@skiptrailer7048]

the camp prefect?