Monument record 8045 - Roman Timber Piles and Sandstone Architecture, Rylands Garage

A sequence of architectural features overlying a palaeochannel, dating to the second century (1). The building sequence is represented by timber piles driven into the sand and silt of the palaeochannel at this location, into the natural clay to stabilise the structure. Sandstone footings were then constructed over this timber structure, then at least one sandstone wall built perpendicular to the footings (1, 2, 3).

The excavation area was not extensive, and no comments on the nature of this building(s) are possible. These building activities were later followed by a series of pits and ditches (CHER 8046), and a third century cultivation soil layer (CHER 8047).

<1> Gifford and Partners, 2005, An archaeological excavation at the former Rylands Garage, City Road, Chester, R2746 (Client Report). SCH4864.

<2> Gifford and Partners, 2003, Former Ryland's Garage, City Road, Chester. Report on archaeological evaluation (Client Report). SCH6837.

<3> Hayes, L, 2005, Excavation at the former Rylands garage, City Road, Chester (Article in Journal). SCH5828.