Monument record 10306 - Post medieval activity to the rear of Newgate 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 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.

Evidence of activity from the post medieval period in the plot to the rear of Newgate Street (plot 6) is rather different from that recorded in the adjacent plots. The evidence of the early post medieval period (phase 6 from the 15th century to the 17th century) is characterised by garden activity in the form of a formal knot garden [context 623] in the centre of the excavated area.

To the north of the plot, traces of a boundary ditch [context 691] was identified along with a cess pit close by. At the eastern end of the excavated area lay traces of a stone building consisting of two parallel wall and an associated hearth [context 958]. Other evidence recorded across the plot in the early post medieval period included pit features and a gully.

The formal garden then appears to have fallen out of use with a number of pits recorded across the excavated area from the 17th century along with evidence of a building consisting of a number of post holes. The pitting activity continued into the 19th century (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.