Site Event/Activity record ECH2850 - Excavations at Greyfriars Court, Nun's Road, Chester in 1976 - 1978 Phase 1 (Dominican - Black Friars)

Two phases of excavation were carried out at this site, first from 1977 - 1978 in the southern part (this event), then between 1981 - 1982 in the northern part (ECH3249). The work was carried out in advance of redevelopment for a nursing home. The broader area is part of a large proposed development site in the west part of the city, just within the medieval walls and south of the Watergate. Owing to the infilling behind the walls a considerable depth of deposits has been excavated dating from Roman, medieval and post medieval periods in a trench running eastwards from the walls 25m by 4m (3). The excavations revealed extensive evidence for the friary buildings representing several phases of construction from the early medieval through to the Dissolution when the site was largely demolished and the structures robbed for their material (5). Additional excavations were carried out in 1974 at 30-42 Nicholas Street (ECH3226) and at Grey Friars House in 1983 (ECH3247). Five phases of construction were recorded in the main church building with evidence of an incomplete nave at the time of the Dissolution, additional ancillary structures were also noted. (1) Saxon artefacts recorded (4).