Monument record 10305 - post medieval activity at 15-23 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 from 15-23 Bridge Street (Plots 5 & 6) consisted largely of pits, ovens & hearths, cultivation layers and an increase in structural activity in the late post medieval. The evidence 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.

Due to limitations to the area excavated, there is rather less evidence of post medieval activity from plots 4 and 5 with the majority of the information coming from plot 4. Pits predominated in this area throughout much of the post medieval period consisting of a number of rubbish and cess pits, including one stone lined example, as well as one pit containing a substantial number of horn cores suggesting tanning or butchery in the vicinity. In the late post medieval period there is a substantial increase in activity with evidence of a boundary along the southern line of the plot and traces of two 18th or 19th century outhouses. (1)

<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.