Site Event/Activity record ECH4182 - Archaeological Watching Brief on land at Old Port, Chester in 2004

The archaeological investigation comprised monitoring of ground works along the east bank of the River Dee during the construction of a cycle path. Due to the nature of the excavation on the slopes of the east bank of the River Dee, the majority of the excavation was in recently deposited silts and late eighteenth and nineteenth century domestic dumps. During the works a concrete crane base was identified five metres to the north of the TS Deva building. This was the same crane base that was uncovered during an earlier evaluation on the site in 2003. This crane base appears to relate to what was termed the New Crane, dating to the late eighteenth century. The bulk of the finds from the excavation to the south of the site relate to a confectionery factory, which as located just to the west of the site. This was destroyed by fire in the early twentieth century. The finds comprised mainly nineteenth century glass and ceramic sherds, which appear to have been dumped on the banks of the river behind the factory buildings, a common practice up until the twentieth century. Finds were also recorded by divers in the River Dee close to the TS Deva buildings. These included a large anchor from what may have been a sloop tyre vessel as well as a Victorian brass bell and a small iron. Bottles from local breweries and glass jar tops were also collected.