Site Event/Activity record ECH2816 - Excavations on the Site of Northgate Brewery, Chester in 1972 - 1973 (Phase I)

First phase of archaeological investigation at the Northgate Brewery site. The site lies close to the Northgate, to the west of Northgate St., within the area of the medieval walled city and of the Roman fortress (9). Following proposed plans for redevelopment of the area in 1971, excavations began in September 1972 and continued until February 1973 (1) (or between October and January according to (4), clearing most of the site of reinforced concrete and demolition-filled cellars. The site produced a significant level of archaeology from the Roman to post medieval period. Continued work in August 1973 (5), allowed further investigation of the area to the west of the Rampart building found earlier in 1973 and the intervallum road (5). Roman: Evidence for the rampart buildings, a clay floor, an oven, the intervallum road and at least one barracks building. Significant truncation was noted however by the cutting of the brewery cellars. Medieval: Evidence for a cobbled surface, sandstone walling and surfaces, a robber trench, rubble foundations, a back filled 14th-15th century cellar and several rubbish pits. Post-medieval: Evidence for a barley roasting house, an inspection pit, rubbish pits, a well house, well and other pits (1). The plan of the cottages on the Water Tower Street frontage now dated to around 1810 have been recorded (6), in addition to a brick-lined rubbish pit which containing pottery, and two wells dating to the seventeenth and eighteenth century (11). Catalogue of Roman mirrors in the Museum (3)