Monument record 1972/1/0 - Heronbridge - Saxon Burials

Excavations at Heronbridge 1930-31 by Dr Petch. Human remains found over large area, but concentration of 14 complete skeletons - adult males,6 young,5 middle-aged & 3 old. Almost half had injuries to head probably inflicted by long sword wielded by cavalryman. In absence of gravegoods, dating not possible. Petch thinks burials from between 2 occupation periods, c.AD 160-200 (1). May be early Christian, as oriented East-West & without gravegoods. Found to predate earthwork, which may rep bridgehead cast up by Aethelfrith, King of Northumbria, when he defeated Britons AD.613-616.As well as British casualties, Aethelfrith is said to have massacred 200 monks from Bangor Iscoed monastery, who came to scene of battle. Part of cemetery subsequently incorporated into earthwork enclosure, which recalls enclosing vallum of early Celtic monasteries (2).Laings consider burials date from Civil War & do not predate earthwork, suggesting only covered by slumped material, spread when rampart was slighted (3).

Excavation by the Chester Archaeological Society in 2004, during the 3rd season of the Heronbridge research Project identified the area excavated by Dr Petch in the 1930 and established that further rows of burials exist in a mass grave, estimated to be a minimum of 7m north-south by a probable maximum of 5m east-west. Based on the spacing of the burials uncovered, this grave may containing in excess of 100 burials.

Two skeletons were excavated and removed for analysis. This revealed that they were both males who had suffered multiple weapon blade (probably sword) cuts to the head, any one of which would have proved fatal. They had clearly been invloved ina ferocious conflict. The results of the radiocarbon dating suggest this mass grave most likely belongs to the early part of the 7th century, suggesting that Heronbridge is the site of the Battle of Chester, fought c.AD616.(5)

<1> Chester Archaeological Society, Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society, Petch J A & Williams W J 1933 30/5-49 (Journal/Periodical). SCH1595.

<2> Bu'lock, J D, 1972, Pre-Conquest Cheshire 383 - 1066, /8 (Monograph). SCH2685.

<3> Laing L & J, 1985, The Dark Ages of West Cheshire, /16-19 (Monograph). SCH3115.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ46SW1 1985 (Index). SCH2487.

<5> Chester Archaeological Society, 2004, The Heronbridge Research Project; third interim report on archaeological investigations at Heronbridge, Chester. (Client Report). SCH4848.