Monument record 9010 - Saxon Tanning Industrial Installations, 26 - 42 Lower Bridge Street (Phase V)

Features and installations associated with the tanning industry and dating to the Saxon period have been recorded as following the abandonment of a group of grubenhaus in the area between Lower Bridge St. to the east and Castle St. to the south (1). Stone-lined troughs protected by open-sided timber sheds were constructed leading up to the Phase IV cellars, while the latter were cleared of silt and debris and took on a new lease of life as receptacles for the residues from the tanning operations. The lining for the troughs were comprised of small rough sandstone blocks bonded with clay (1). Contemporary with the trough in Area II was a line of post holes running roughly east – west for about 1.2m, and a longer, more substantial row of posts were found in a similar position to the other trough in Area I. Both troughs adjoined the formerly abandoned cellars of Structures 1 and 2 (CHER 9009), now being re-used as tanning pits. Although substantial deposits of silt and tanning residues accumulated in the cellars, the evidence suggests that they were also cleaned regularly (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.