Site Event/Activity record ECH2849 - Excavations at the Old Drill Hall, Duke Street in 1983 (Chester)

A small excavation at the old Drill Hall in Duke St., Chester, carried out in advance of redevelopment. The earliest activity is represented by stakeholes , later a well, probably dating to the second century, followed by demolition material and a medieval cultivated soil horizon (1). The former Drill Hall of the city of Chester lay near the south-eastern corner of the area enclosed within the medieval city walls, but outside the Roman legionary defences. In 1983, most of the building which had been disused for several years, was demolished and rebuilding as a residential and office devel¬ opment was commenced. The opportunity which this redevelopment afforded was taken to conduct a two week trial excavation to assess the archaeological potential of this area. A trench five metres north to south and two metres east to west was opened in the central area of the new development which formed a courtyard. Observations were also made of the foundation trenches of the apartment block which was erected in the northern part of the site. The site produced evidence for Roman and medieval occupation but no buildings.