Monument record 10299 - Medieval activity at 27-31 Bridge Street east

Archaeological investigations to the rear of 15-31 Bridge Street in 2001 (part of Debenhams) identified multi-phased activity from the Roman through to the modern period. Although the medieval activity largely comprised pits, ditches and cultivation soils typical of what would be found in the rear medieval plots, the sheer quantity of finds recovered was remarkable.

The earliest activity in plots 1 (No 29-31 Bridge Street Row) and 2 (No 27 Bridge Street Row) consisted of a build up of cultivation soils in the Norman period between 1066 and around 1250. This appears to be typical in the rear areas of plots as structural activity would have been concentrated on the immediate street frontage. Towards the end of the 13th century there was a gradual increase in shallow pits and postholes in the area excavated although interpretation of these features proved elusive.

The evidence from plot 1 in the later medieval period consisted of a east-west aligned culvert along its northern edge separating it from plot 2 along with a continued build up of cultivation soils. Evidence of a structure was also identified consisting of three walls surviving to a height of three courses surrounding a floor of compacted clay in the centre of which was an oven consisting of burnt sandstone blocks set in a deep construction cut. 13th-14th century pottery was recovered from the floor of the structure. The structure was then re-floored in the 14th-15th century with a poor quality sandstone rubble covering the oven, this was followed by the cutting of a new hearth over the oven. Finally in this phase, a yard or road surface was introduced over the cultivation soils in this plot.

The evidence from plot 2 consisted of a series of stone lined cess pits cut into the accumulated cultivation soils. Following the back filling of these pits, a shallow construction trench was cut for an oven. The surviving features of the oven comprised a sandstone slab floor and traces of a curved wall suggesting a domed superstructure. The base of the flue was also identified. In addition to the culvert separating plots 1 and 2, a second culvert on a north-south alignment along the back of the plot was also identified. Additional evidence from plot 2 consisted of a pair of stone packed post holes parallel to the northern boundary of the plot and a second possible oven structure.

<1> Garner D, 2008, Excavations at Chester: 25 Bridge Street 2001. Two thousand years of urban life in microcosm (Monograph). SCH6160.

<2> Gifford and Partners, 2002, Debenhams, Chester: Post-excavation Assessment Report, R3162 (Client Report). SCH6253.

<3> Beaumont James T, 2001, Medieval Britain and Ireland in 2000 (Article in Journal). SCH5644.

<4> Chester Archaeological Society, 2002: Part 1, The Chester Antiquary (Booklet-Leaflet). SCH6488.

<5> Ponsford, Michael, 2001, Post-Medieval Britain and Ireland in 2000 (Article in Journal). SCH6069.

<6> Bruce, Rachel, 2002, Chester Chronicle (Newspaper-Magazine). SCH6171.

<7> Chester Archaeology, 2001, Dig News (Newsletter). SCH6406.

<8> Chester Archaeology, 2002, Dig News (Newsletter). SCH6386.

<9> Chester Archaeology, 2002, Dig News (Newsletter). SCH6387.

<10> Chester Archaeology, 2003, Dig News (Newsletter). SCH6391.

<11> Chester City Council Archaeology Service, 2002, The Past Uncovered (Newsletter). SCH6031.

<12> Chester City Council Archaeology Service, 2009, The Past Uncovered (Newsletter). SCH6048.

<13> Chester City Council Archaeology Service, 2002, Annual Review 2001-2002 (Newsletter). SCH6058.