Site Event/Activity record ECH6894 - Northgate Redevelopment, Phase 1, Chester: Archaeological Watching Brief Report

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken in 2019 during the excavation of several test-pits at the site of a proposed multi-use development, the Chester Northgate Redevelopment, Phase 1. It was proposed to excavate 23 test pits, however, only seventeen were eventually excavated on Hunter Street, St Martin’s Way and Princess Street. The aim of the works was to identify and locate services around the perimeter of the Phase 1 stage of the development, during which an archaeological watching brief would be maintained to record any archaeological features identified during the works. Services were found to have extensively truncated the archaeological remains, with potentially significant archaeology identified in nine of the seventeen excavated test-pits (Test-pits 3, 5, 6, 14, 15, 16, 17, 21 and 22). The archaeological remains in three of the test-pits (Test-pits 3, 5 and 15) was identified as putative walls, all east/west-aligned and less than 0.3m below the ground level, potentially relating to barrack-blocks within the Roman legionary fortress. Test-pit 14 also contained sandstone rubble, probably tumble that may have originated from the western rampart of the Roman legionary fortress. The remaining test-pits (Test-pits 6, 16, 17, 21 and 22) contained relict soil horizons or levelling deposits, which may seal significant archaeological remains at a greater depth than that excavated in the test-pits. It is equally possible that archaeological remains survive between these test-pits. Test-pit 21 also contained a possible compacted clay floor, which was overlain by a relict soil horizon. (1) Post excavation analysis for the full scheme of mitigation undertaken as part of the Phase 1 re-development. (2)