Monument record 8521 - Roman Pits, Features and Stakeholes, Telephone Exchange

During excavations at the Telephone Exchange in St John St. between 1970 and 1971 (3), a series of Roman features were recorded. This monument refers to a small series of pits and stakeholes, recorded in Trench D, and sealed by a large sandstone spread (CHER 8522).

Several bands of red clay, possibly burnt, were seen, with a substantial amount of charcoal (but the excavators note they did not see contemporary evidence of a structure). Next to this was a vertically sided rock-cut pit of Roman date, containing pottery dating to the first century and suggesting that it was relatively short-lived (3). A number of stake holes and post holes were recorded, but no obvious (architectural) pattern could be discerned. Finally, a smaller pit in this area contained a relatively high proportion of roof tile fragments (3). Again, all of these features were sealed by the sandstone spread CHER 8522.

<1> Newstead, R (Prof.), 1939, Records of Archaeological Finds II-V, Newstead R 1939 33/9-11 (Article in Journal). SCH5702.

<2> n/a, 1954, Miscellanea, Webster G 1954 41/89 (Article in Journal). SCH5735.

<3> Robinson D.J. & Ward T.E, 1975, Excavations on the site of the Chester telephone exchange extension, Robinson D J & Ward T E 1975 58/41-6 (Article in Journal). SCH5902.

<4> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, 1/170-171 Petch D F 1987 (Book). SCH3556.

<5> Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1970-Present, Britannia, 3/313 Wilson D R 1972 (Journal/Periodical). SCH445.

<6> Earthworks Archaeology, 2006, Proposed Redevelopment at The Former BT Exchange Building St John Street Chester, R2606 (Client Report). SCH4656.