Monument record 10182 - medieval soil layers and pits at Commonhall Street

Archaeological investigations in Commonhall Street in 1991 identified evidence of medieval soil layers and rubbish pits typical of activity to the rear of the street frontage.

The pits contained large quantities of finds as well as organic material. A layer of mixed brown soil [Layer 10] was recorded in trench 2 overlying an earlier deposit of Saxon date, despite being relatively sterile the layer is believed to have formed in the medieval period. Trench 3 also identified a similar soil layer some 1.6m deep [Layer 30] containing material of a medieval and early post medieval date. In trench 4 the excavations recorded a soil layer some 0.5m thick containing pottery of a 13th-14th century date along with a broadly contemporary pit. Trench 5 recorded a large pit containing pottery of a 13th century date that occupied almost the entire trench with the exception of the southern edge where the pit cut a medieval soil layer. A dark soil strip against the edge of the pit was tentatively interpreted as timber revetting for the pit.

The evidence supports the view that the area excavated sat within the back yards of plots fronting onto Bridge Street with the boundaries of the Common Hall and the Carmelite Friary to the west. (1)

<1> Chester Archaeology, 1991, Commonhall Village, Chester: An Archaeological Evaluation, R2087 (Client Report). SCH4113.

<2> Nenk B. Margeson S & Hurley M, 1992, Medieval Britain and Ireland in 1991 (Article in Journal). SCH5635.