Monument record 8140 - Stakes and Post, 78 - 82 Foregate Street (Former Co-op Stores)

At the site of former Co-op Stores, at corner of Foregate St and Love St. in the area excavated for an extension to the existing building in 1914 (ECH2466), and again during excavations in 1930 (ECH4975). In 1914, five oak stakes were found in a row on a north – south alignment, c 24.5m east of where a large ditch had been identified (CHER 8089/9) (1). Later, during excavations associated with a 1930 extension to the building, a large oak post was revealed at depth of c 2.4m, found c 18m east of line of stakes found in 1914 (4).

Note that a similar row of stakes were found nearby, at the ABC Cinema (CHER 8139), however the latter were aligned east – west, and this row was aligned north – south (1).

<1> Newstead, Robert (Prof.), 1926, Records of Archaeological Finds at Chester, 93-5 (Article in Journal). SCH5955.

<2> Newstead, R (Prof.), 1939, Records of Archaeological Finds II-V, Newstead R 1939 33/113 (Article in Journal). SCH5702.

<3> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, 1/169 Petch D F 1987 (Book). SCH3556.

<4> Anon, 1932, Schedule of the Roman Remains of Chester, Newstead R 1930 29/69/No.69 (Article in Journal). SCH5712.

<5> Longley D, 1977-1978, Longley Archive, /no.208 (Paper Archive). SCH2005.

<6> Shone W, 1911, Prehistoric Man in Cheshire, p.52-3 (Book). SCH2710.

<7> Grosvenor Museum, Grosvenor Museum Accessions, 212/1903-4, 211/1905 (Index). SCH407.

<8> Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Revised List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, City of Chester Extra Mural 1998/ Revised 1 (96-97) (Unpublished Report). SCH4570.