Monument record 10150 - 18th century well room at the Northgate Brewery

Archaeological investigations at the Northgate Brewery Site (corner of Northgate Street and Water Tower Street) recorded evidence of post medieval activity. The excavations were carried out by P.J. Davey of the Grosvenor Museum following the demolition of the former brewery.

A circular feature 2.5m deep cut into the natural sandstone, encountered in area 008 of the excavations on the Northgate Street frontage was interpreted as a well. Above the natural, the walls of the feature had been built up by six courses of dry stone walling. The fill of the feature would suggest the feature was backfilled some-time in the mid 17th century.

A second, more substantial well feature was also encountered during the excavations in area 001 on the Northgate Street frontage on the adjacent plot the earlier feature. This feature comprised a circular room built of large curved sandstone blocks up to six courses high and partly rock cut the floor of which covered a well, interpreted as a well room. Pottery fragments recovered from the room suggest a date of construction in the mid 18th century. (1)

<1> Davey, P. J., 1973, Chester Northgate Brewery Phase One (Monograph). SCH950.

<2> multiple authors, 1973, Excavation Reports and Summaries, p18-19 (Article in Journal). SCH5782.

<3> Grosvenor Museum Excavations Newsletter, 1973, Summary of Excavations in Chester (Newsletter). SCH6226.

<4> Cherry, John, 1973, Post-Medieval Britain in 1972, p103-104 (Article in Journal). SCH6075.