Monument record 8393 - Roman mosaic floors recorded at Bridge Street East

Excavations to the rear of No 23-25 Bridge Street (then the premises of Messrs Davies & Shepheard warehouse) recorded evidence of several Roman floor surfaces. An opus signinum floor some 1.2m in width was exposed to the north of the passage to Fletchers Buildings while a smaller area of mosaic floor 0.30m in width was exposed on the south side of the passage. (2)

The northern surface was comprised chiefly of broken tegulae with a base of sandstone brash and capped with a layer of mortar. The exposed section suggested it continued further north beyond the excavated area (1)

The southern surface comprised a black and white mosaic similar in design and composition to others found in the city. Possibly from the site of a tribune's house (4).

<1> Newstead, R (Prof.), 1902, A Descriptive Account of Roman and Other Objects from Various Sites in Chester and District, 1898-1901, p104 (Article in Journal). SCH5946.

<2> Chester Archaeological Society, Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society, 1903 9/141 (Journal/Periodical). SCH1595.

<3> Lawson, P H, 1926, Schedule of the Roman Remains of Chester with Maps and Plans, No.32 (Article in Journal). SCH5956.

<4> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, p148 (Book). SCH3556.