Site Event/Activity record ECH4734 - The City Walls: Further archaeological investigations to the rear of the Grosvenor Hotel, Chester in 2010

In October and November 2010, an archaeological watching brief, cleaning and recording exercise, in addition to a limited amount of excavation, were carried out during improvement works in the narrow passageway between the Grosvenor Hotel and the recently reconstructed section of city wall to the rear of properties fronting St John St., Chester. A previous evaluation (R3000) had identified high quality archaeology at a vulnerable depth. During this phase of the works the archaeological potential of the east side of the passageway, away from the deep disturbances associated with the construction of the Grosvenor Hotel, were confirmed. Immediately beneath the concrete, building remains and surfaces associated with post-medieval structures that once formed part of the hotel complex, were identified. Limited investigation to lower levels identified important surviving features and deposits associated with the Roman defensive circuit. Overall, the results have confirmed that archaeology of high quality survives in a 1.50m to 2m wide strip up against the city wall in this location.