Monument record 8297 - Roman Finds, Possible Refuse Deposits, 26 - 42 Lower Bridge Street

At some time in the period AD 400 – 850, much of the area of west of Lower Bridge St. and north of Castle St. was turned into plough land (1). This was divided into 12m wide strips by a series of small ditches aligned north – south, interpreted as drainage ditches, these features (e.g. F77) were periodically re-cut. Short sections of four of these ditches were recorded throughout the excavation areas represented by ECH2825, and note that there was no indication of ridge and furrow.

Seemingly after a lengthy period of cultivation, the area was temporarily abandoned. The cultivation layer contained heavily abraded residual Roman pottery and some tile, indicating that these ploughing activities had churned up Roman refuse deposits (1). Plough scars were recorded in line with the ditches, and also below them, demonstrating that the area had been ploughed before the drainage system was established. The build-up of silt within the ditches shows that cultivation in this area was abandoned after a certain time.

<1> Mason, D. J. P., 1985, Excavations at Chester, 26-42 Lower Bridge Street 1974-6: The Dark Age and Saxon Periods (Excavation & survey reports) (Monograph). SCH1188.

<2> Mason, D. J. P., 1975, Pre-Conquest Chester, the Archaeological Evidence, 3/40-41 Mason D J P 1975 (Article in Journal). SCH5793.

<3> Mason, D. J. P., 1976, Chester: The evolution and adaptation of its landscape, 4/25-26 Mason D J P 1976 (Article in Journal). SCH5908.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, 1981 SJ46NW35.2 & 79 (Index). SCH2487.

<5> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, 1/287 Thacker A 1987 (Book). SCH3556.

<6> Longley D, 1977-1978, Longley Archive, /no.414 (Paper Archive). SCH2005.

<7> Grosvenor Museum Excavations Newsletter, 1975, Summary of Excavations in Chester (Newsletter). SCH6235.

<8> Grosvenor Museum Excavations Newsletter, 1975, Summary of Excavations in Chester (Newsletter). SCH6239.

<9> Grosvenor Museum Excavations Newsletter, 1986, Summary of Excavations in Chester (Newsletter). SCH6271.