Monument record 8709 - Roman deposits including a possible wall foundation, 26-28 Nicholas Street, Chester

<1> Eden Heritage Ltd, 2021, 26 & 28 Nicholas Street, Chester, Cheshire: Archaeological Evaluation, R4515 (Client Report). SCH9050.

Roman deposits including a potential surface deposit, also a wall foundation, were excavated in 2021, in an area located behind No's 26 and 28 Nicholas Street. Trench 2, measuring 1.5m long and 1.5m wide, was excavated to an overall depth of 1.2m below ground level. A deposit of compacted yellow/grey silty clay (205) was revealed on the west side of the trench, within which were frequent rounded red sandstone cobbles, measuring up to 0.08m in diameter and forming part of a possible surface. A similar deposit of compacted yellow/grey silty clay (208), measuring 0.2m wide, was revealed on the eastern edge of the trench and may be related. Between these two surfaces was a raised deposit of compacted yellow/grey silty clay (207), crossing the trench aligned north-west to south-east; this was interpreted as a possible wall foundation. It measured approximately 0.6m wide and o.12m high and contained frequent rounded red sandstone pieces measuring up to 0.2m by 0.1m by 0.1m; several pieces of Roman tile were recovered from its surface. The clay content was noticeably higher than deposits (205) and (208). Immediately to the west of the possible wall foundation (207) and overlying deposit (205) was a deposit of orange clay (206), measuring 0.2m by 0.3m and 0.06m deep, extending outside of the trench to the north-west. All of the above deposits were covered by 0.2m of grey sandy silt (204), which contained frequent fragments of red sandstone, Roman pottery, CBM and animal bone.

Two other trenches, excavated at the same time as Trench 2, also contained Roman deposits of a similar nature - see also CHER 8710 and CHER 8711.