Site Event/Activity record ECH6859 - Archaeological Evaluation on Land East of Clifton Drive, Chester, Cheshire

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken 2020 on land east of Clifton Drive, Chester, Cheshire, in advance of development for residential purposes.The evaluation trenching targeted an anomaly identified from aerial photography as well as a possible field boundary identified on historical mapping data. The agreed works comprised a scheme of evaluation trenching to uncover and record any deposits or structures associated with the Roman and medieval development of Chester and its surrounding hinterlands. Urban expansion in the 19th century had seen the area develop and the site, which forms part of the River Dee floodplain, become a recreational area comprising three playing fields. The programme of archaeological trenching has highlighted the paucity of archaeological features and deposits across the site and may indicate limited potential for further archaeological remains to exist within the boundary of the development area. Limited evidence for archaeological activity was revealed within the proposed development area comprising post-medieval furrows, 19th century agricultural land boundaries, the installation of 19th – 20th century land drains and the localised levelling up at the north-west extremities of the site during the construction of the levee which forms part of the sites northern boundary. No other finds, features or deposits of archaeological significance were revealed during the course of the evaluation fieldwork. (1)