Monument record 10951 - 17th century tanning activity at Russell Street

Archaeological investigations between Russell Street and City Road, on the site of the former Rylands Garage between 2003 and 2005 identified evidence of 17th century tanning activity.

Evaluation test pits excavated within the former garage in 2003 identified several pits in trenches 5 and 6 containing quantities of tanning waste. Trench 5 identified a single large pit [52] containing 17th century pottery, cattle horn cores and clay tobacco pipe dated to the late 17th century. The evidence from trench 6 was more limited and comprised traces of a deposit [55] containing pottery of a late 17th century date. (1)

Subsequent excavations at the same site in 2005 recorded further evidence of 17th century tanning activity comprising two 17th century pits [258; 226] sealed by a later 18th century cultivation soil [270] in trench 4. The fill of pit 258 included quantities of animal bone and horn core perhaps indicative of tanning waste. (2)

<1> Gifford and Partners, 2003, Former Ryland's Garage, City Road, Chester. Report on archaeological evaluation, R3347 (Client Report). SCH6837.

<2> Gifford and Partners, 2005, An archaeological excavation at the former Rylands Garage, City Road, Chester, R2746 (Client Report). SCH4864.

<3> Hayes, L, 2005, Excavation at the former Rylands garage, City Road, Chester (Article in Journal). SCH5828.