Monument record 10160/1 - Medieval strip property on Princess Street: Building

Archaeological investigations between 1978 and 1982 as part of the Hunter Street/Princess Street excavations uncovered substantial evidence of medieval and post medieval activity. The excavations covered a substantial area west of Northgate Street between Princess Street and Hunter Street, however, although the Roman and Saxon evidence has been published, the medieval and later work remains largely unpublished.

<1> multiple authors, 1980/81, Excavation Reports and Sites Observed (Article in Journal). SCH5806.

Evidence from Trench 5 of the excavations consisted of several medieval properties; two arranged north-south fronting onto Princess Street (CHER 10160) and five abutting it aligned east-west and fronting onto Northgate Street (CHER 10161). This arrangement of properties appears to been introduced shortly after the Conquest over the existing Saxon alignment and indicate a prolonged period of activity throughout the medieval and post medieval period

<2> Chester Archaeology, 1980, Princess Street Excavations: Medieval and post medieval features (Unpublished Report). SCH6806.

The medieval evidence from the western plot on Princess Street consisted of a series of deposits beginning in the early medieval period (i.e. pre 12th century) with a levelling deposit of crushed sandstone [F41] over which a timber building on sleeper beams was constructed. The eastern wall of the building was recorded [F36] with a post hole in the north east corner [T28] and a second post hole to the east [T22]. The rear wall of the building corresponded with the northern extent of the crushed sandstone platform approximately 5.8m from the southern edge of the trench. An internal wall represented by an east-west aligned beam slot [F37] was also encountered to the west of F36.

Although the full internal arrangement was not excavated it was possible to identify a central hearth in the rear room. The structure was rebuilt at least twice during the medieval period on more or less the same plan, surviving until the 17th century. As in the adjacent Northgate Street plots, a large number of rubbish and cess pits were recorded to the rear of the plot including one substantial rock cut pit in use during the 13th-14th century and sealed in the 15th century. An additional 13th century cess pit was also identified.

<3> Youngs S & Clark J, 1981, Medieval Britain and Ireland in 1980 (Article in Journal). SCH5624.

<4> Grosvenor Museum Excavations Newsletter, 1980, Summary of Excavations in Chester (Newsletter). SCH6265.

<5> Ward, S. W., 1994, Saxon Occupation within the Roman Fortress: Sites Excavated, 1971-81 (Archaeological Service Excavation & Survey Reports) (Monograph). SCH5486.

<6> Grosvenor Museum Excavations Newsletter, 1981, Summary of Excavations in Chester (Newsletter). SCH6267.

<7> Ward, S. W., 1985, The Rows: the Evidence from Archaeology (Article in Journal). SCH5821.

<8> Greig, J.R.A., 1986, The medieval (13th/14th century) plant remains from Chester, Hunters Walk. Draft report (Unpublished Report). SCH6943.