Monument record 10304 - post medieval activity at 25 Bridge Street (Phase 6 to 8)

Archaeological investigations to the rear of 15-31 Bridge Street (part of Debenhams) in 1996 and in 2001 identified multi-phased activity from the Roman through to the modern period. It was possible to identify the rear boundaries of 5 plots on an east-west alignment fronting onto Bridge Street and the rear of a sixth plot that probably extended onto Newgate Street.

Post medieval activity to the rear of No 25 (Plot 3) consisted largely of pits, ovens & hearths, cultivation layers and an increase in structural activity and could be divided into 3 phases continuing on from the medieval activity. Phase 6 was dated to the 15th-17th century and constituted the transition period from the medieval to post medieval. Phase 7 dated to the 17th-18th century and phase 8 from the 18th to 19th centuries.

Activity in the early post medieval period to the rear of the plot was confined largely to pitting activity with a ditch of uncertain function on a north-south alignment cutting the western part of the excavated area. Much of the 17th-18th century activity also consisted of pitting activity although traces of cultivation soils and a possible substantial pit or cellar feature was identified to the rear of the plot during the evaluation phase of investigations in 1996.

Structural evidence from the later post medieval and modern periods was similarly limited with several pits and hearth identified.

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

<2> Chester Archaeology, 1996, 25-29 Bridge Street, Chester; trial excavation., R2689 (Client Report). SCH4797.

<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.

<14> Gifford and Partners, 2002, Debenhams, Chester: Post-excavation Assessment Report, R3162 (Client Report). SCH6253.