Site Event/Activity record ECH6909 - Chester Racecourse, Parade Ring Canopies: Historic Environment Desk-Based Assessment (Heritage Statement)

An Historic Environment Desk-Based Assessment was produced in 2020 for an area of land at Chester Racecourse for which planning permission is being sought for development of Parade Ring Canopies. The proposed development at the Site comprises two main elements: i. A new circular bar under an open-sided canopy. A central, enclosed stair gives access to a rooftop terrace which overlooks the Parade Ring. Ii. The replacement of existing food & drink outlets with a row of single storey kitchen / serveries with an adjacent seating area covered by a series of octagonal canopies. The Site is positioned within the racing circuit and is centred, approximately, at National Grid Reference SJ 39968 66009. The study takes a detailed look at historical mapping and images of the area of the racecourse. A site visit was also undertaken including photographic recording. There are no registered World Heritage Sites, Scheduled Monuments, Listed Buildings, Locally Listed Buildings, Registered Parks and Gardens or Registered Battlefields wholly or partly within in the Site. However, the following potential heritage assets were identified and discussed:- • Isolated artefacts dating to the Roman period • Archaeological evidence of the Roman harbour at the Roodee • Archaeological evidence of Chester’s medieval port • Archaeological evidence of 17th century land reclamation and occupation It concludes that the works have some potential to expose archaeological deposits from a variety of periods, with specific reference to the foundations for the new structures that will be established in the alluvial silts which form the underlying ground. (1)