Monument record 8403/2/1 - Roman deposits at Princess Street (Insula XXI)

<1> Oxford Archaeology North, 2016, Archaeological Evaluation. Chester Northgate Redevelopment. Areas B, C and D., R3888, p.9-10 (Client Report). SCH8055.

A programme of evaluation trenching and boreholes was undertaken in the area of Chester Bus Station in 2016 as part of the Northgate redevelopment scheme. Trench 7, measuring 3m x 1.3m, was placed in the centre of the bus station between Hunter Street and Princess Street. A considerable depth (0.6m) of surviving Roman stratigraphy and structural remains was uncovered in this trench. A Roman soil horizon (701) was revealed at 27.87m aOD, comprising a firm dark brown sediment with charcoal flecks, Roman ceramic building material, including fragments of Roman tile (or tegula), pottery fragments and animal bone. At the north end of the trench, there was a dressed sandstone block, set horizontally within Roman sediments and aligned approximately north-north-west to south-south-east. The block (703), measuring c 300 x 200mm, was apparently in association with another such sandstone block, although this was largely under the north section. This could represent remains of a structure, possibly an approximately north to south wall and (given the alignment and what is known of the archaeology of the immediate area) it is potentially part of the large Roman building that has been identified to the north of the Elliptical Building complex (in Insula XXI).

<2> Oxford Archaeology North, 2022, Chester Northgate Redevelopment: Phase 1 Post-Excavation Assessment Report, R4690, p.42 (Client Report). SCH9431.

The deposits recorded in 2016 in Trench 7 fall within the area of the courtyard building complex (8403/2) and may represent an internal partition in the east range of buildings arranged around the central courtyard.