Site Event/Activity record ECH5164 - Archaeological investigations at Chester Castle, 1979-82

Programme of clearance undertaken in the Inner Ward of Chester Castle with the intention of making the medieval and post medieval history and development of the castle more intelligible to the public by revealing structures long hidden behind modern buildings. Six phases of activity from the medieval to the present day was recorded. The earliest evidence comprised features associated with the medieval motte and evidence of a flagstone flooring. In the sixteenth century, surfaces associated with standing structures were noted while later evidence from the seventeenth century was noted associated with the armoury known to have existed here including several wall footings with evidence of plaster and paintwork from the upper layers. In the mid-eighteenth century there was evidence of alteration to the earliest brick work (1).