Monument record 9018 - Saxon Timber Building, Hunter's Walk

Identified in Trench V of the Hunter’s Walk / Princess St. excavation represented by ECH2852 (Phase I of the excavations in this area), were post holes interpreted as the remains of a large Saxon timber building (4). Aligned generally east – west and lying at a slight diagonal across the former Roman street, the main structure of the building appeared to have been supported by large paired posts, with at least two pairs of major (large) post holes and additional smaller ones (4). The evidence for side walls consisted of possible slots for sill beams lying outside the lines of the major posts, but these were only traceable where they crossed the wall of the earlier Roman building: it seems that where possible the sill beams were laid directly on the ground, but where they crossed Roman walls, the stones of the latter were removed, allowing for a softer bed for the beam (4). Although the major posts appear to have been paired across the building, the layout is not rectangular, the line between the pair of posts making an angle of only 80 degrees with the side walls. This suggested that the building was a post construction (not of true framed construction), where the purpose of the posts is to support a wall-plate or ring beam upon which the roof can be erected as a separate structure. The external wall in such a building is not necessarily structural; there was no evidence for daub in the associated deposits, and these walls may have been made of timber (4). Small internal posts suggest partition walls or other installations, and an area of burnt clay fragments was identified as a hearth (4). It seems that part of the sandstone paving also recorded in this area (CHER 9017) acted as the floor to this building, as a relatively large amount of animal bone was found trodden into the surface, but only in that area within the confines of the structure (4).

<1> The Society for Medieval Archaeology, 1957-Present, Medieval Archaeology, Youngs S M & Clark J 1981 25/167 (Journal/Periodical). SCH2131.

<2> multiple authors, 1980/81, Excavation Reports and Sites Observed, 7/43-44 Ward S 1980 (Article in Journal). SCH5806.

<3> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, 1/288 Thacker A 1987 (Book). SCH3556.

<4> Ward, S. W., 1994, Saxon Occupation within the Roman Fortress: Sites Excavated, 1971-81 (Archaeological Service Excavation & Survey Reports) (Monograph). SCH5486.

<5> Grosvenor Museum Excavations Newsletter, 1981, Summary of Excavations in Chester (Newsletter). SCH6267.

<6> Grosvenor Museum Excavations Newsletter, 1982, Summary of Excavations in Chester (Newsletter). SCH6268.