Monument record 8144 - Roman Mains Culverts, Shipgate Street

During non-archaeological excavations for an underground parking structure along Shipgate St. in 1982, a sequence of Roman activity was identified and recorded rapidly (1). The earliest activity is represented by two stone-lined culverts, which flowed from the north, joined together, and then flowed southwards beyond the excavation area, towards the river. Each culvert was of sandstone masonry, nine courses each and bonded with clay.

The area between the culverts had been filled with quarry waste or sandstone rubble. The culverts seem to have been abandoned and infilled after only a short period of use, before any silt could accumulate in them (1). The recovered finds, though few in number, date to between AD 120 – 160 (1). The culverts were replaced by a sequence of timber and stone buildings (CHER 8145).

<1> Ward, S. W., 2012, Shipgate Street, 1983 (Article in Monograph). SCH6559.

<2> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, 1/173-174 Petch D F 1987 (Book). SCH3556.

<3> County Historic Environment Record, 1973-1985, Cheshire Archaeological Bulletin, 9/57 Strickland T J 1983 (Journal/Periodical). SCH565.