Site Event/Activity record ECH2840 - Salvage Excavation at 1-11 Crook Street, Chester in 1973 - 1974

Excavations began on site in mid August in an area approximately corresponding to the former almshouses and adjacent to the brewery on Crook Street. The decision to excavate in this area was made on the assumption that the south ends of Roman barrack blocks would be recorded (5). In August 1973 work began in the area south of Hamilton House, revealing the southern end of a barrack block thought to date to the early second century. This building extended from the area now occupied by Hamilton House to the centre of this excavation. Possibly late Roman post holes post-date this structure, and a large number of Saxon and medieval pits are present. A substantial post-medieval structure was evident, possibly a malting kiln. Six small almshouse were built on the site in 1859 (2). At least two phases of Roman stone buildings were recorded in addition to a late or possibly post Roman timber building. Both phases of stone buildings ended on an east-west alignment approximately across the centre of the area (5). Various extensions to the excavated area was made in 1974 into the Brewery site and under its cellars. Removal of the latest paving in the main trench revealed a number of cobbled surfaces running over the original veranda kerb thus indicating that it was either re-surfaced without a kerb or that it was entirely demolished. Within the barracks, two clay surfaces have been identified (6).