Monument record 10347 - Medieval structural activity at Foregate Street

Archaeological investigations in 1991 and 1992 at 34-36 Foregate Street identified a complex series of deposits from the medieval to post medieval periods. The investigations involved three evaluation trenches to the rear of 34 Foregate Street in 1991 while in 1992 a larger trench was excavated across the front of both plots with another larger trench to the rear of No 36 Foregate Street.

An early medieval pit, datable to the 13th century, and a 14th century floor or yard surface were recorded in trench 1 at No 34 Foregate Street in 1991 underlying a later medieval building (CHER 10348). The surface largely comprised decomposed sandstone [Deposit 61] interpreted as a possible floor surface, pottery recovered from it suggested a 14th century date. Below the surface an earlier pit, probably 13th century in date, was recorded. (1)

More extensive evidence of structural activity was recorded close to the street frontage in trench 5 of the 1992 excavations. The evidence consisted of the floor of a building [396] and a sandstone edge hearth situated in a shallow pit [399]. Although no dating evidence was recovered from this structure, it was overlain by a soil deposit containing 13th-14th century pottery and was therefore contemporary with the evidence recovered from trench 1 a short distance to the south. (2)

The excavations at 34 Foregate Street identified five broad phases of activity beginning with structural activity in the 13th-14th century (CHER 10347) followed by late medieval structural activity in the 15th century (CHER 10348). In the post medieval period the rear of the property recorded substantial evidence of industrial activity from the 17th and 18th century (CHER 10349) before the Union Hall was built (CHER 10088). The excavations at 36 Foregate Street, however, identified four broad phases of activity beginning with traces of a hearth and a cellar feature in the medieval period (CHER 10185) followed by substantial industrial activity in the post medieval period from the 15th-16th century onwards (CHER 10186). In the 18th or 19th century a timber framed building was constructed close to the street frontage (CHER 10405) before the Union Hall was built over the entire plot (CHER 10088).

<1> Chester Archaeology, 1991, An Evaluation Excavation at 32-36 Foregate Street, Chester, September 1991, R2092 (Client Report). SCH4108.

<2> Reid M.L., 2011, An Archaeological Excavation at 32-36 Foregate Street, Chester, R3128 (Client Report). SCH6280.

<3> Nenk B. Margeson S & Hurley M, 1993, Medieval Britain and Ireland in 1992 (Article in Journal). SCH5638.