Monument record 8602/2 - Roman industrial activity west of the road at Nun's Field

Archaeological investigations carried out at Nun’s Field in 2007 (now the Council Headquarters building) recorded evidence of industrial activity to the west of a Roman road.

The earliest phase of activity comprised timber slots and post holes interpreted as a timber building of a probable late first or early second century date. The early structure was later replaced in stone, now encroaching onto the road. This area also produced evidence of small furnaces or ovens and areas of burnt clay. The stone phase structure appeared to survive into the third century AD. (1)

Archaeological investigations at the Nun’s Field site (now the Council Headquarters building) in the later 20th century have recorded evidence of industrial activity. An early evaluation in 1964 recorded a layer containing substantial ash and charcoal deposits (8602/1) while more recent investigations in 2007 have recorded at least one furnace and several structures serving a probable industrial function to the east (8602/3) and west (8602/2) of a road.

<1> Earthworks Archaeological Services, 2011, Former Police HQ Site, Chester – Brief Summary of Roman Archaeology (Written Communication). SCH6545.