Site Event/Activity record ECH6403 - Proposed Residential Redevelopment on Land off Volunteer Street, Chester: An Archaeological Evaluation

In July 2017 Earthworks Archaeology carried out an archaeological evaluation on land off Volunteer Street, Chester (centring on NGR SJ 40669 66061) on behalf of Octavia Estates, Colchester. Four trial pits, each measuring 2.0m by 2.0m, were excavated and the results for pits 1, 2 and 3 have demonstrated the presence of post-medieval and medieval soil layers, extending to depths of up to 2.70m below ground level. The thick soil deposits imply that the area extending to the rear of the Pepper Street frontage remained largely open space throughout the later medieval and post-medieval periods and was seen as a convenient place to dispose of refuse. These thick medieval and post-medieval soils provide a protective cushion over any earlier archaeology that may survive within the site. The dating evidence recovered clearly indicates that the stratigraphically earliest of the deposits encountered dates to the late medieval period with much of the stratigraphic sequence dating to the 17th and 18th centuries punctured, in places, by 19th and 20th century structural remains (brick footings and a probable septic tank). In trial pits 1 and 3, 20th century brick-lined, linear pits were encountered, these are very similar to structures encountered in earlier excavations (2013 and 2014, ECH5673 and ECH6328) just to the north-west. These pits were cut into the earlier deposits to an average depth of circa 1.2m. During this period the Anchor Motor Company premises, which occupied large and widespread garage facilities to the east of the junction of Volunteer Street with Pepper Street, were used as a wartime manufactory specialising in the installation of components into the cockpit sections of Lancaster bombers, along with the manufacturer of wing components (elevators etc.). Additionally, in trial pit 4, the well-preserved remains of a WWII air-raid shelter were encountered; this probably represents the continuation of a shelter recorded just to the north in the earlier 2013 excavation. The conversion to an aircraft manufactory, albeit temporarily, required the installation of air-raid shelters and other essential facilities for the protection and comfort of the employees. Finds were recovered from three of the four trial pits. These comprised mostly ceramics (pottery, clay tobacco pipes) of post-medieval date along with small quantities of post-medieval glass and metal objects. Pottery of medieval date was recovered from the stratigraphically earliest layers encountered in trial pits 2 and 3. (1)