Monument record 13011 - Excavated Sandstone Walls, 87-89 Foregate Street

<1> L-P Archaeology, 2021, Archaeological Evaluation Report: 87-89 Foregate Street, Chester, R4517 (Client Report). SCH9055.

The foundations of a north-south sandstone wall, also the terminus of a second wall, were recorded in an archaeological evaluation trench at 87-89 Foregate Street, in 2020.

The north-south wall (feature 525) was encountered along the eastern edge of Trench 5. It was 4.8m long and comprised of irregular sandstone blocks laid in rough coursing up to three courses high and bonded in yellow/brown clay. Although the cut for the wall foundation produced Roman pottery, it is thought to be of medieval date. The terminus of a second sandstone wall foundation [feature 541], orientated east-west, was identified to the north of Wall 525. Its foundation trench was 0.66m wide and extended into Trench 5 for a length of 0.3m. The wall was also constructed from red sandstone blocks, bonded in yellow/brown clay; it appeared to continue eastwards beyond the limit of excavation and survived to a height of three courses.

Also recorded in Trench 5 was a linear construction cut [542], aligned east-west, which was circa 1.8m wide and 0.48m deep. The upperfill consisted of a mixed dark yellow/brown clay silt, c.0.3m thick, with common lumps of red clay present within the matrix. Beneath this was a layer of firm red clay with a semi-circular zone of bright red clay in its north-west extent, above this was a single red sandstone block. Feature [542] has been interpreted as part of an oven base.

At the northern end of Trench 5, a layer of dark yellow/brown charcoal-rich clay silt (516), measuring up to 0.24m thick, produced sherds of Medieval pottery.