Monument record 10330 - Medieval Soil Horizon, Building Rubble and Masonry, Nun's Road

A medieval period soil horizon, in addition to an area of building rubble or debris and some masonry, were recorded during excavations at the former police headquarters site at Nun’s Road (1). In Trench 8 was a deposit containing small fragments of sandstone, charcoal, and a small pottery assemblage of fifteenth to sixteenth century date, in addition to a fourteenth century buckle (1).

In the section of this small excavation trench, a wall foundation was identified, comprised of red sandstone blocks seemingly aligned on a north-east to south-west axis (1). In nearby Trench 7, a 0.6m thick layer of building rubble, comprised of angular sandstone blocks and mortar with some late medieval ceramics and floor tiles of fifteenth to sixteenth century date, was recorded. The small scale of the excavations makes interpretation of these remains difficult, but it was suggested that the rubble layer could have been related to the demolition of the former nunnery buildings on site (CHER 10319), and the wall, visible only in section, may be related to the nunnery precinct (CHER 10319/2) (1, 2, 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.