Monument record 10395 - Evidence of Early Medieval Levelling, Ground Preparation of Franciscan Friars Site

During archaeological excavations undertaken at the Queen’s School in 1992, on the site of the former Franciscan friars, evidence of ground levelling and preparation activities carried out in advance of the construction of the friary precinct were identified (1). A thick deposit of river sand was recorded, in layers pre-dating the identified post medieval remains (e.g. CHER 10315) and the Roman building seen in the excavation trenches (2, 3, 4).

The excavators suggested that these deliberately laid deposits were related to the construction of the friary, and were brought on site in the 1230s or 1240s (1). The friars had been granted permission to breach the city walls in 1246 to being in building materials from the river, which would have included river sand (1).

<1> Chester Archaeology, 1992, An Archaeological Evaluation on the Site of a Proposed Extension to the Queen's School, Chester, March 1992, R2096 (Client Report). SCH4104.

<2> Chester City Council Archaeology Service, 1992, Chester Archaeology Service Newsletter (Newsletter). SCH6006.

<3> Chester City Council Archaeology Service, 1993, Annual Review 1992-1993 (Newsletter). SCH6049.

<4> Ward, S. W., 1990, Excavations at Chester: The Lesser Medieval Religious Houses - Sites Investigated, 1964-83 (Grosvenor Museum Archaeological Excavation & Survey Reports) (Monograph). SCH1193.