Site Event/Activity record ECH7196 - Chester Northgate Redevelopment Phase 00: Archaeological Watching Brief Report

A watching brief was undertaken in 2019 to monitor the hand-excavation of a single foundation base, within the Phase 00 area of works on the Chester Northgate development site, on the north-west quadrant of the historic city centre (SJ 40434 66491). The work was initially to comprise the hand-excavation of two foundation bases; however, upon completion of the first, it was decided that the excavation of only one would be required. The foundation base was 1.9m long by 0.7m wide and was excavated to a depth of 0.9m below ground level. Deposits within the excavated foundation base included modern levelling deposits and made ground. There were no archaeologically significant deposits or finds identified during the monitoring works. This is probably due to the depth of the foundation base being relatively shallow, but also its location, being within an area of substantial change in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. (1)