Monument record 8112 - Structure Pre-dating Roman Fortress Wall, St John Street

A relatively substantial sandstone structure of uncertain function, represented by construction trench and a foundation, was identified during archaeological excavations associated with the construction of a new concrete retaining buttress on the east side of the city wall, St John St., Chester, in 2010 (1).

The construction trench of this structure was cut into the early fortress rampart (CHER 8100), to a depth of c0.1m. The foundations consisted of clay-bonded angular sandstone fragments clearly set within a construction trench measuring up to c1.5m wide. The structure was aligned east – west, and so was perpendicular to the line of the fortress wall (CHER 8099). It continued westwards beneath the extant city wall. No clear connection between this structure and the cut for the Roman fortress wall could be established as a foundation trench for the former library building at this location removed any such relationship (1).

<1> Earthworks Archaeological Services, 2011, A New Concrete Retaining Buttress on the East Side of the City Wall, St John Street, Chester: a Programme of Limited Archaeological Excavation and Recording, R3068 (Client Report). SCH5440.