Monument record 9007 - Possible Saxon Roasting Pits and Kiln, 26 - 42 Lower Bridge Street (Phase II)

Following a considerable period of dereliction (following the cultivation horizon represented by CHER 9006) there was a brief and insubstantial reuse of the site between Lower Bridge St. to the east and Castle St. to the south (1). This was represented by three ‘roasting pits’ in Area II and the remains of a small oven in Area III. The roasting pits were all square or sub-rectangular, 0.75m deep on average, and had cut through the underlying plough-soil and natural clay into bedrock (1). Their lower fills contained charred twigs and charcoal, and a very small amount of highly fragmented animal bone was recovered. The feature identified as a kiln was in Area III, and was a 0.3m deep pit cut into the cultivation layer, with its sides and basal surface burnt orange. Because the finds suggested to the excavators that fires and animal processing had taken place in these features, they were tentatively interpreted as roasting pits and a potential small oven or open kiln (1).

<1> Mason, D. J. P., 1985, Excavations at Chester, 26-42 Lower Bridge Street 1974-6: The Dark Age and Saxon Periods (Excavation & survey reports) (Monograph). SCH1188.

<2> Mason, D. J. P., 1975, Pre-Conquest Chester, the Archaeological Evidence, 3/40-41 Mason D J P 1975 (Article in Journal). SCH5793.

<3> Mason, D. J. P., 1976, Chester: The evolution and adaptation of its landscape, 4/25-26 Mason D J P 1976 (Article in Journal). SCH5908.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, 1981 SJ46NW35.2 & 79 (Index). SCH2487.

<5> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, 1/287 Thacker A 1987 (Book). SCH3556.

<6> Longley D, 1977-1978, Longley Archive, /no.414 (Paper Archive). SCH2005.

<7> Grosvenor Museum Excavations Newsletter, 1986, Summary of Excavations in Chester (Newsletter). SCH6271.