Monument record 11523 - Auction Mart Building, 87-89 Foregate Street

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

A brick wall foundation was recorded during an archaeological evaluation at 87-89 Foregate Street, in 2020. It lay at the northern end of the Trench 6, was aligned east-west and constructed from handmade brick bonded in lime mortar. It is thought that it may represent the southern wall of the auction mart building shown on on Stockdale's map of 1796 and in more detail on the first edition OS map 1875.

Additionally, to the north of Trench 6, a cellar was recorded in the southern part of Trench 7; this appears to have been located at the northern end of the auction mart building as depicted on the first edition OS map 1875, with a wall and steps representing the northern end of the building and external access via a rear yard. The building was extended to the north by 1899 by which point the cellar would have no longer been externally accessible from the rear.

<2> Oxford Archaeology North, 2022, 83-89 Foregate Street, Chester: Archaeological Fieldwork Report, R4653 (Client Report). SCH9324.

Archaeological recording undertaken in 2021-2022 during groundworks as part of the construction of a new build retail store, recorded further elements of the former Auction Mart building, within the footprint of 87-89 Foregate Street. Features included perimeter walls (231, 226 and 228) and a cellar located to the east of wall 228. These walls coincided with those depicted on historic Ordnance Survey mapping.