Site Event/Activity record ECH4868 - Archaeological investigations at 25 Bridge Street, Chester in 2001 (Debenhams)

Primary source is monograph (SCH6160). The excavations were undertaken in response to a proposed extension of Browns of Chester (Debenhams). The site comprised a block of land to the rear of the properties fronting onto the east side of Bridge Street, primarilly occupied by No.s 15-27 at street level and No.s 19-31 at Row level. The excavations followed on from evaluation trenches dug in 1996 and geotechnical test pits in 2000. (2) The excavations recorded evidence for the layout of the forward part of the Roman fortress as well as recovering a considerable assemblage of pottery and CBM.The earliest phase of activity was represented by an east-west aligned road of rammed gravel running along the north side of the fortress baths with a drainage ditch to the north of the road. A stone structure was built on the site with opus signinum flooring and painted plaster walls. The building continued until the 4th century when it appeared to be in a somewhat ruinuous state. In the post Roman period a series of large pits were cut with no apparent regard to the Roman fortress plan. (1) Into the medieval period the site has recorded evidence of the emergence of the Norman burgage plots and their later subdivision. The area appears to have been in use as cultivation in the Norman to medieval period with plot boundaries subsequently established by the 14th-15th centuries. A number of ovens and stone lined pits were recorded towards the end of the medieval period, falling out of use in the late 15th-early 17th century. The post medieval economy is also noted in the large quantities of high quality clay tobacco pipes, pottery, glass and animal bone. (1) Results of post-excavation analyses following excavations at Browns of Chester. 3.5m to 4m of archaeological deposits were relatively well preserved at the site, but much of the earliest deposits at the site were unexcavated. Large quantity of artefacts have been recovered from the excavations including the leg bone of an elephant. Fragments of corroded iron of a 17th century date may have come from a jack of plate jacket. (6)