Site Event/Activity record ECH3169 - Excavations on the site of Woolworths, Eastgate Street, Chester in 1959

Redevelopment on the site afforded the opportunity to carry out some archaeological investigation, although access to the street frontage area was not possible, some excavation was carried out to the rear of the premises fronting onto St Werburgh's Street. The previously concealed inner face of the medieval city wall was observed, the Agricolan rampart and traces of three legionary ovens in the intervallum as well as a section across the intervallum road showing the kerb, sidewalk and stone lined drain. Part of the men's quarters of a stone built barrack was noted on a north-south alignment with its exterior veranda as well as the veranda of the adjacent barrack to the west, two two forming a striga. Also noted were a considerable number of pits and features from the Roman to post medieval periods. At least four Christian burials were cut into the north end of the barrack, probably from the burial ground of St Oswald's (1) Site is referred to as Site No 16 in the Defences Monograph (3)