Monument record 10380 - Medieval or Post Medieval Ditches / Boundaries, Royal Infirmary

Extensive archaeological remains dating from Roman to post medieval times were recorded during 1998 excavations at the Royal Infirmary, building upon earlier archaeological work carried out in 1992 (ECH3601). In the southern part of the site, a series of ditches were recorded, cut into the natural subsoil but truncated by the construction of the hospital (1). One was oriented north – south, while a later one (cutting the first) was oriented north-east to south-west and was in parallel to two smaller gullies.

The ditches were generally about 1m wide, had flat bases and steep sides at the bottom (1). Both medieval and post medieval pottery was found in all of the fills, and it is unclear to which period(s) they belong. They have been interpreted as either property divisions or field boundaries (1).

<1> Malcom Reid, 1998, Chester Royal Infirmary Archaeological Excavation 1998 (DRAFT) (Unpublished Report). SCH6699.

<2> Chester Archaeology, 1998, Dig News (Newsletter). SCH6352.

<3> Chester City Council Archaeology Service, 1998, The Past Uncovered (Newsletter). SCH6019.

<4> Nenk B. Margeson S & Hurley M, 1999, Medieval Britain and Ireland in 1998 (Article in Journal). SCH5641.