Monument record 9011 - Saxon Timber Building, 26 - 42 Lower Bridge Street (Phase V)

Contemporary with the large Saxon tanning installations immediately to the north (CHER 9010), overlying a derelict earlier Saxon semi-subterranean building (CHER 9009), the hollow marking the site of the former structure was cleared out and a new building, also semi-subterranean, was erected (1). The existence of a large hearth in the latter is suggestive of an industrial function. Unlike the earlier buildings in this area, this structure had a sequence of irregular post holes lining it’s exterior, at the contemporary ground level, and no evidence of internal timbers (1). The hearth installation was a large squared area, set into the floor, and was comprised of a platform of sandstone nodules and dirty yellow clay, and its surface had been discoloured by burning (1). Overlying the feature and the remainder of the floor was a layer of charcoal, all suggesting some sort of industrial activity (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.