Site Event/Activity record ECH4325 - Old Port, Chester; Archaeological Excavation Report.

The watching brief in areas 1-5 revealed a very disturbed site, one which had obviously undergone remediation in the past. The stratigraphy within these areas comprised made ground and rubble. Only two sections uncovered in-situ archaeological deposits. To the west of the site a post medieval sandstone wharf or graving dock was uncovered, and to the north of the site, the remains of the west wall of the union workhouse was identified. Area 5 was located to the south of the site and contained the remnants of a series of small gasometers. The excavation uncovered a clear plan of the Union Workhouse, including its four main ranges and central courtyard as well as a later extension to the south. Much of this had been destroyed by later services relating to the gas works, however, enough has survived to form a definite building plan. To the south of the Workhouse the Roodee Cop was uncovered. The Cop extended from the disturbed ground where the large gasometer had been located to the disturbed ground where the garage had been placed. This ran in an east-west orientation and comprised a silt core with sandstone capping on the south river face.