Site Event/Activity record ECH6199 - Archaeological Watching Brief for 80 Watergate Street, Chester

The site lies within an Area of Archaeological Importance and to the immediate south of known Roman and Medieval archaeological features. The works comprised the hand excavation of an area 3.5m by 2.5m in plan, to a depth of 0.45m below ground level. The excavations revealed a 20th century stone paving surface and sub-base measuring 0.16m thick, which overlay a deposit of late 19th to early 20th century made ground extending beyond the base of excavation. In the northeast corner of the excavation area a late 19th to 20th century garden wall, comprising brick and sandstone material, was identified directly below the sub-base and overlain by the made ground. The wall was dated due to its relationship with the standing wall forming the eastern boundary of the site, which dates to the 19th century. No archaeological features of significance were identified during the works. It should be noted, however, that works undertaken by L – P : Archaeology at the Linenhall, 10m to north of the site, uncovered in situ Medieval and Roman deposits at over 1m below the excavations on this site. As such it is possible that in tact archaeological deposits and features exist below the depth of impact of this development.