Site Event/Activity record ECH5077 - Archaeological Excavations at 12 Hamilton Place, Chester in 1994

Major excavations were undertaken in 1994 at 12 Hamilton Place prior to the construction of the TJ Hughes development. The building was designed to preserve as much as possible of the archaeology. Across the site only the top metre of ground was affected by the floor slab; this zone mainly consisted of post medieval and modern deposits which were carefully excavated. In addition, there were several deeper, pad foundations, plus lift and escalator pits, which penetrated through earlier remains, these also were carefully, hand-excavated. Two groups of nineteenth century houses were recorded, as well as post medieval pits from properties fronting onto Crook Street. A sandstone rubble spread was observed in several of the deeper foundations pits across the site, this has been interpreted as a demolition layer of late Roman date. Above this was a thick soil deposit, up to 1m in depth; this is thought to represent a gradual build up of topsoil, through to the seventeenth century. In one of the foundation pits walling associated with an opus signum floor was encountered and potentially represents the remains of a building of Roman date. (1-5)