Monument record 10650 - Nineteenth Century Ground Levelling Deposits, Cathedral Grounds

Recent archaeological investigations to the south of Chester Cathedral recorded a series of post medieval layers that were interpreted as levelling deposits created during the nineteenth century, to the south of the Cathedral adjacent to St Werburgh St. (1, 2). Generally, they were described as silty sand, containing fragments of stone and brick rubble, and in some instances residual medieval and Roman material, in addition to sherds of seventeenth to nineteenth century pottery.

It was suggested that these represent soil which was deposited in order to level and raise the respective areas, during the nineteenth century. These layers have a complex stratigraphic relationship with the extensive area of post medieval burials (2).

<1> Oxford Archaeology North, 2011, Chester Cathedral Quarter, Chester. Revised Evaluation Report (Client Report). SCH6658.

<2> Oxford Archaeology North, 2010, The archaeological investigation of the south side of Chester Cathedral (Unpublished Report). SCH6536.