Monument record 8145 - Roman Timber and Stone Buildings, Shipgate Street

Following a phase of Roman activity on this site represented by two culverts (CHER 8144), a sequence of timber and stone buildings were identified. Note that the excavation area was not very large, and much of the archaeology had been removed before it could be recorded. Much of the phasing was done according to evidence visible in section (1).

The earliest of these was a timber building (Phase III), represented by a slot, post holes, and hard-packed surfaces, and the few finds recovered from this phase date to the first and second century (1). Phase IV was a second timber framed building, with a sandstone block foundation and a timber superstructure, and is thought to have dated broadly to between the first and third century (1). Phases V-VII saw the previous timber structure demolished and the construction of a stone building(s). To the north of the building was a drain made of roof tiles, which ran from south to north, or opposite the actual lay of the land at this location (1).

Evidence of a metalled surface was interpreted as that of a road rather than a courtyard, and was seen to the east of the stone building (1). The stone structure, as it existed at the time, was demolished in the third century (1, 2, 3).

Samples taken from the site contained the remains of general domestic refuse from house fires and other rubbish along with quantities of organic matter that suggest a gradual wettening of the site in the Roman period (4)

<1> Ward, S. W., 2012, Shipgate Street, 1983 (Article in Monograph). SCH6559.

<2> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, 1/173-174 Petch D F 1987 (Book). SCH3556.

<3> County Historic Environment Record, 1973-1985, Cheshire Archaeological Bulletin, 9/57 Strickland T J 1983 (Journal/Periodical). SCH565.

<4> Greig, J.R.A., 1983, Shpigate Street (Unpublished Report). SCH6947.