Site Event/Activity record ECH6038 - Archaeological Evaluation and Mitigation Report at Chester Business Quarter

Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by Muse Development Ltd to undertake archaeological investigations at the site of the proposed Chester Business Quarter. The Site had previously been subject to a baseline study of the known cultural heritage assets in the area (Thompson 2014). The archaeological work comprised an archaeological evaluation followed by a strip, map and record and watching brief. The investigations recorded the remains of foundations relating to buildings shown on 19th century mapping which had survived particularly across the eastern section of the Site. A heavily truncated section of sandstone wall appears to have been the earliest feature present, possibly relating to buildings visible on early to mid-19th century mapping. This wall then appears to have been demolished during the construction of a series of greenhouses visible on the 1875 Ordnance Survey 1:500 Town Plan. In particular, the corner and part of the floor surface of the most southerly greenhouse were revealed, as well as a likely internal wall with evidence of the former floor surface surrounding it. The investigations also uncovered another wall from the northern greenhouse, which had been truncated by later disturbance. In addition, a single course sandstone foundation may have formed part of a border in gardens also visible on the 1875 OS map. Around the 1950s new structures were built on the site, possibly associated with the adjacent railway to the north. Two machine brick and cement walls, recorded during the mitigation phase, likely relate to one of these buildings or were railway walls. These walls were then disturbed during the modern conversion of the site to car parking.