Site Event/Activity record ECH4781 - Archaeological Evaluation of Land at the Roodee, Chester

The archaeological investigation comprised the excavation of four trenches along the banks of the Dee prior to the construction of a new walkway around the Roodee Racecourse. Evidence recovered from the site indicates that the sandstone wall along the south face of the Roodee Racecourse was constructed during the 20th century within an area subject to regular flooding. The south face of the wall shows that flooding continued, however, the wall acted as a solid defence for the racecourse. To the north of the site, a continuation of the Roodee Cop was identified. This was a silt bund constructed in the early 18th century as a form of flood defence and can be seen to continue through the Old Port site and on to the Cop recreational ground along New Crane Street. To the south east of the site, trench 4 produced evidence that the clay natural is at a higher level that elsewhere along the banks of the Dee. This gives a solid foundation for the Grosvenor Bridge and can go some way to explaining why the bridge was located here.