Site Event/Activity record ECH6654 - Northgate Steps, City Walls, Chester: An Archaeological Watching Brief

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken between June 2016 and April 2018 during the dismantling of the North Gate Steps, City Walls, Chester (centring on NGR SJ 40400 66668). The walls, towers, gates and posterns of the city are a scheduled national monument (List entry number: 1006785). A programme of investigation into, and monitoring of, the movement and cracking of the Northgate Steps structure on the west side of the North Gate, Chester, revealed that the Steps and City Wall structure had been separating for some considerable time (see also ECH5634, ECH5633 and ECH6157). The resulting void between the two structures had, in the past, been packed with rubble and bridged by the widening of the step treads. However, further movement of the steps had resulted in the dislodging of the ashlar masonry of the inner face of the City Wall and, consequently, it became clear that, in order to carry out any repairs to the City Wall, the Steps structure would need to be dismantled. As the steps structure was removed, the previously unexposed masonry of the inner face of the City Wall was revealed and recorded. During the dismantling process, structural remains relating to the defences of the Roman legionary fortress were also revealed, including a section of the earthen rampart, a single large posthole which may relate to a timber gatehouse structure, also the remains of two substantial, sandstone block walls, probably the foundation courses of a later masonry gatehouse. (1) This published account of the archaeological work undertaken between 2016 and 2018, presents a further discussion of the remains encountered and their interpretation as the Roman North Gate. Evidence for the other gates at Chester, in particular the East Gate, is discussed. The proposed reconstruction of the two phases of the Gate (timber and masonry) is presented and discussed: Journal of Chester Archaeological Society, Volume 88, 2018, p.55-64. (2)