Monument record 8287 - East-west aligned Roman road at Bridge Street

Archaeological investigations to the rear of 27-29 Bridge Street have recorded evidence of a deposit interpreted as a surface (1) or an east-west aligned cambered road (2)

An earlier evaluation in 1996 had recorded a layer of compacted clay containing cobble and sandstone fragments that were tentatively interpreted as a road surface (CHER 8192). Later evidence recovered during archaeological investigations in 2001 recorded evidence of a terrace cut into the natural to form a level surface and sealed by a series of layers the earliest of which comprised a sandstone brash layer interpreted as a road surface. Although no dating evidence was recovered it is interpreted as a continuation of the surface from 1996. (2)

The road was subsequently re-surfaced in the early second century and again in the third century and a second century ditch c.0.2m deep inserted to the north. Evidence from the fill of the ditch suggest silting began almost immediately. (2)

This monument may be linked to the southern edge of a possible road surface and drain recorded approximately 20m to the south-east (CHER 8444), however if this was the case the road would potentially have been up to 5m in width. (3)

<1> Chester Archaeology, 1996, 25-29 Bridge Street, Chester; trial excavation., R2689 (Client Report). SCH4797.

<2> Garner D, 2008, Excavations at Chester: 25 Bridge Street 2001. Two thousand years of urban life in microcosm (Monograph). SCH6160.

<4> Gifford and Partners, 2002, Debenhams, Chester: Post-excavation Assessment Report, R3162 (Client Report). SCH6253.