Site Event/Activity record ECH4097 - Hartleys Bar, Bridge Street, Warrington: Report of an Archaeological Watching Brief

A watching brief was undertaken in 2005 during the construction of a new extension to Hartleys Bar, Bridge Street, which lies on the west side of Bridge Street, Warrington. This places it just behind the medieval street frontage and close to, or within, the precinct of the medieval friary. Records from the late 19th century also note the discovery of a stone vaulted undercroft nearby, perhaps connected with the friary’s infirmary. The watching brief recorded a massive wall foundation which, initially, was thought to be of sandstone and part of the friary precinct wall, further investigation, however, confirmed that the wall was made of tap slag blocks and was of much later date. Similar blocks were used to construct the vaults of the 18th-century Bank Hall. (1)