Site Event/Activity record ECH6149 - Repairs to Retaining Wall at Rock Lane, Chester

Watching brief on a collapsed length of retaining wall in Rock Lane, Chester.The Rock Lane is believed to have been cut during the Civil War of 1642–6 in order to safely facilitate the movement of men and materials, particularly cannon, during the siege of Chester. An archaeological watching brief was held during the initial stabilising works prior to rebuilding of the wall, including limited excavation of the ground immediately to the north of the wall. Information regarding the construction and character of the wall, together with the general stratigraphic sequence adjacent to it, was recorded. The watching brief successfully recorded the character of the sandstone retaining wall within the area of collapse. The face of the rock-cut trench that was to become Rock Lane appeared to have been adapted by through the cutting back of the sandstone bedrock in order to form a ledge on which the retaining wall could be adequately bedded. The sandstone retaining wall incorporated re-used architectural masonry that may have derived from the building of, or subsequent repairs to, the sandstone buildings of Chester College (founded 1839) located on the adjacent side of Parkgate Road to Rock lane. Indeed, the original college buildings, constructed in Elizabethan style, were much altered and added to during the 1840s through the building of an elementary school and chapel; the chapel was largely built by the students as an exercise in craftsmanship. In addition to the details recorded surrounding the retaining wall itself, was the recovery of a not insignificant assemblage of mid-nineteenth century artefacts from what was once the gardens to the property known as Abbot’s Grange. This assemblage provides a small insight into the consumption tastes of the occupant, or occupants, and perhaps even those of Mr. William Ayrton recorded as occupier at around this time. Further back in time still, the fragments of pottery and ceramic building materials dating to the Roman period hint towards activity within this area of Chester’s suburbs and, consequently, the gardens of Abbot’s Grange may yet hold valuable information regarding the character and extent of this activity