Monument record 10185 - Medieval cellar and hearth 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.

Excavations at 36 Foregate Street 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).

Archaeological investigations close to the street frontage of 36 Foregate Street in 1992 identified several features of a broadly medieval date in the eastern part of trench 5. The evidence comprised an area of compacted clay containing slag interpreted as the remains of a possible hearth along with traces of a possible floor surface surrounding it. To the south of these features wall [298] on an east west alignment connected with a second wall [335] on a north south alignment were interpreted as a possible cellar or undercroft. Later evidence from this trench suggests it was filled in during the early post medieval period. (2)

<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 (Client Report). SCH6280.

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