Site Event/Activity record ECH5564 - Archaeological excavations at Tower Wharf, Chester in 2007-2008

Programme of archaeological mitigation work at Tower Wharf, Chester between 2007 and 2008 in advance of planned redevelopment of the site. Works comprised excavation in Areas A & B to the north and south of Wharf View and Area C on Upper Cambrian Road. A watching brief was also carried out on the area to the south of Wharf View and east of the canal along with smaller areas of recording immediately east of the canal basin at at the northern end of the site. A further area of archaeological observation was also caried out following the demolition of the structure in Area C. Finally building recording was carried out prior to the demoliton of four buildings - a large mid 19th century single storey warehouse in Area C, a small mid 19th century single storey adjacent to Upper Cambrian Road, a series of three small single storey buildings with crane at the southern end adjacent to the canal and a mid 19th century building associated with the canal on Raymond Street. The results of the excavation and watching brief included evidence of Roman activity from the 1st to 3rd century AD including evidence of a phase 1 Roman road and roadside ditch, a phase 2 Roman pits and a well, phase 3 Roman building and external drip gully and phase 4 ditches and a pond. Later evidence was dated to the late medieval to post medieval period and included several grave cuts and a substantial ditch of a probable Civil War date.