Site Event/Activity record ECH6046 - Archaeological Desk Based Assessment for Dee House, Chester

The site located at Dee House, Chester, CH1 1SN is being considered in order to explore options for bringing it back in to beneficial use for redevelopment. This report contains the results of cartographic, archaeological, and documentary research into the site undertaken by L – P : Archaeology on behalf of Chester Renaissance (CwaC). The site lies within the Chester Area of Archaeological Importance, designated under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 and the Chester City Conservation Area, designated in 1969 by Chester City Council. The site overlies part of a Scheduled Monument, known as Roman Amphitheatre (National Ref no:1004638), which is also Grade I listed as Remains of Roman Amphitheatre (List entry no:1375863). The site also contains the Grade II Listed Building known as Dee House. The site is of international archaeological significance owing to it containing the buried remains of Chester's Roman Amphitheatre. This report has focused on the results of previous archaeological investigations to determine the depth at which significant archaeological remains survive across the site; this information has been illustrated within the report by a number of cross-sections and plans. The criteria for what is considered to be significant archaeology has been clarified and agreed with English Heritage during the course of the desk based work. Areas within the site where robust archaeological data is lacking and which to some extent remain an unknown quantity have also been identified. The report has set out the significance of the site in archaeological and historical terms and has used this information to assess the setting of the various heritage assets both within and adjacent to it. This assessment is considered in relation to the implications of future non-specific development on the site as formal proposals are still awaited from potential developers.