Site Event/Activity record ECH6013 - An Archaeological investigation at The "Cockpit", Church Lane, Upton, Chester

On Wednesday 08 and Thursday 09 October 2014 an archaeological investigation and rapid recording programme commissioned by the Localities Department of Cheshire West and Chester Council was undertaken at the site known locally as 'The Cockpit', Church Lane, Upton, Chester in advance of a landscaping project to improve and enhance the area. As there was local interest in the site, the opportunity was taken to open the project up to community involvement. As a result, year 5 pupils from Upton Heath Primary School and years 2 and 3 from Upton Westlea Primary School joined the archaeologists on site to learn and carry out some simple archaeological tasks. Work consisted of the rapid excavation ot he central sunken feature, found to be the structural remains of a garden feature shown in 1950's photographs. A test rench on the South east slope revealed a section of low drystone revetted wall running to an unknown extent around the inner slope of the depression. Other above ground remains of possible sandstone walls were revealed during a walkover survey. It is likely these walls were constructed as part of the garden landscaping. The artefactual evidence recovered consisted of glass and pottery sherds of 19th and 20th century date suggesting the use of the site as a garden after the Victoria Hotel was built.