Monument record 10324 - Medieval Cultivation Horizon, Gullies and Possible Surface, Royal Infirmary

During excavations at the site of the Royal Infirmary in 1992, evidence of medieval agricultural activities including cultivation, and possibly architectural remains were found (1). In Trench VIII, in the north-east part of the site, a gully 1m wide and up to 0.6m deep, aligned north – south, was recorded and at the southern end of the trench, the gully split into two smaller channels, perhaps a result of a re-cut. The lower fill of the gully contained pottery dating to between the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, and the upper fills contained fourteenth to fifteenth century pottery. Immediately to the east of this gully lay a roughly circular rubble-filled hole, which contained pottery dating to between the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.

These medieval features sealed a series of Roman period gullies and post holes (CHER 8083). The medieval features possibly delineated plot boundaries, while the rubble filled pit may represent a large posthole, disturbed by the removal of a post. The excavators speculated that it may have had something to do with the abbey barn (CHER 10355). Elsewhere on the site, in Trench VI, an undated crushed sandstone surface was recorded (1). Although no datable evidence was associated with it, it was stratigraphically between the Roman and eighteenth century horizons at the site (1). The excavators also speculated that if this were a medieval surface, that it too may have been associated with the abbey barn (1). Elsewhere on the site, medieval period deposits are limited to a layer of cultivated soil (1).

<1> Chester Archaeology, 1992, An Archaeological Evaluation on the Site of a Proposed Extension to the Queen's School, Chester, March 1992, R2096 (Client Report). SCH4104.

<2> Chester City Council Archaeology Service, 1998, The Past Uncovered (Newsletter). SCH6019.