Site Event/Activity record ECH6111 - Archaeological Evaluation and Strip, Map and Sample Report at Former Newtown Bakery Site, Trafford Street, Chester, Cheshire

Archaeological strip map and sample undertaken in three phases, comprising four evaluation trenches along with a single open area trench, excavated across an area of landscaped rubble/ waste ground left from the demolition of the Former Newtown bakery. The aim was to identify the presence of archaeological remains. Trenches 1 and 3 contained no archaeologically significant remains, with natural geology present just below the ground surface in Trench 1. In Trench 3, possible quarry backfill formed of deposits of post medieval material was observed to a depth of 1.2m. These deposits were observed to be up to 2.6m deep in trench 2, which along with trench 4 contained the remains of 19th century terraced houses. In Trench 2, part of the remains of an outbuilding was identified at the eastern end of the trench and had survived just below ground surface. The outbuilding was constructed against a red sandstone wall which ran broadly north-west to south-east, and formed part of the rear boundary to the terraced houses. The foundations of the 19th century terraced houses were uncovered in Trench 4, and as similar to Trench 2 had survived just below the ground surface. A small open area was excavated to the west of Trench 4 and to investigate these remains. The open area revealed the rear of numbers 56 and 57 of the terrace houses built early to mid-19th century at Trafford Street, depicted on 19th century mapping. The remains of these properties were heavily damaged by the development of the site in the 1950's from housing into the bakery. As a result, little of the internal features of the house had survived.