A Famous Ampitheatre

One of the key features of Roman Chester was its ampitheatre, two fifths of which can still be seen in the city today. In its original form, the ampitheatre could seat anywhere between 8,000 - 12,000 spectators, and was used as both a military training ground and an entertainments venue for the people of Deva.

The ampitheatre is the largest known Roman ampitheatre in Britain, though it was discovered only by chance in 1929 during excavations for a new road. The road was consequently diverted and the ampitheatre brought back to life as a tourist attraction, which was opened to the public in 1972. It still receives thousands of visitors each year, and there are regular reenactments each year to ensure that this crucial part of Chester’s history stays alive.