Monument record 10329 - Mid-Nineteenth Century Militia Barrack Buildings, Nun's Road

During an archaeological evaluation at the police headquarters site on Nun’s Road carried out in 2004, revealed part of the foundation of the militia barracks that had stood on the eastern edge of the site, along the route of St Nicholas St. (formerly Castle Esplanade) (1, 2, 3). Trench 3 contained a substantial sandstone wall aligned on a general north – south axis. The excavators concluded that it was almost certainly part of the barrack buildings, and is therefore a significant surviving monument of Chester’s post medieval military history (1).

The barracks were for the permanent staff of the first Regiment of the Royal Cheshire Militia, and were built by the county authorities outside the castle precinct in Nuns’ Gardens to designs by TM Penson in 1858 – 1859 (3). It had extravagant thirteenth-century castellated style with many towers and turrets and a gateway with a portcullis (3). It was sold to the War Department in 1874, and after 1882 housed the married non-commissioned officers of the regimental depot. The building was re-purchased by the county council in 1963 and demolished in 1964 (3).

<1> Earthworks Archaeological Services, 2004, Proposed redevelopment at the Police Headquarters Building, Nun's Road, Chester; an archaeological evaluation., R2739 (Client Report). SCH4856.

<2> Chester Archaeology, 2005, Dig News (Newsletter). SCH6397.

<3> Chester City Council Archaeology Service, 2005, The Past Uncovered (Newsletter). SCH6038.

<4> Lewis C.P & Thacker A.T. (eds), 2005, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume Vii, The City of Chester - The City of Chester, Culture, Buildings, Institutions (Book). SCH6522.