Monument record 11015 - 17th century reclamation soil from New Crane Street Car park

Archaeological investigations at the New Crane Street car park outside the Watergate in 2002 identified evidence of a substantial 17th century soil layer indicative of land reclamation.

The evidence was recorded in trench B of the excavations where cellars 2m deep attributed to later terraced housing cut substantial deposits containing quantities of material from the 17th century from between 2m-3m deep. Below which, at a depth of 3.5-4m, there was an organic rich silt deposit containing material of a 16th century date.

The evidence was interpreted as a primary layer of organic material derived from activity on or near to the river from during the period when it was a tidal river estuary. i.e. before the canalisation of the river in the mid 18th century. This was then followed by a period of dumping in the area in the late 16th to 17th century, possibly for land reclamation purposes. (1)

<1> Gifford and Partners, 2002, New Crane Street Car Park, Chester: Report on an Archaeological Evaluation, R2424 (Client Report). SCH4400.