Monument record 10662 - Large Drain or Passageway, West End of Little Abbey Court

A 1816 reference to the discovery of a substantial passageway or drain, large enough for a person to stand in, at the west end of Little Abbey Court reads as follows: 'branches from the remains of the monastery of St Werburgh, and runs in a direction due east under the Little Abbey Court, when it takes a south eastern direction. This way, however, was not explored to its termination, and it was closed up before curiosity could be gratified. During the time it was open, ...the writer of this,...entered the gloomy avenue, fully prepared with lights, but were compelled to return by the workmen. The small entrance arch is situated about ten or twelve feet under the level at the west end of Little Abbey Court, and the passage runs along the north side.' (1).

The nature of this passageway or drain remains unclear, and although many similar structures elsewhere in the city have been attributed to the Roman period, it could be part of the medieval water supply (CHER 10640/13) for the abbey. A similar (if not the same) feature was identified, also in Little Abbey Court in 1797 (2). On that occasion, there was no suggestion that the feature was Roman, and it was simply assumed that it was part of the abbey's water supply.

<1> Thompson Watkin W. T., 1886, Roman Cheshire: A Description of Roman Remains in the County of Chester, p115-116 (Book). SCH2878.

<2> Lawson, P H, 1926, Schedule of the Roman Remains of Chester with Maps and Plans (Article in Journal). SCH5956.