Monument record 10282 - Medieval Pits at 12 Watergate Street

<1> Ward, S. W., 1987, Excavations at Chester, 12 Watergate Street 1985: Roman Headquarters Building to Medieval Row (Monograph). SCH1186.

Archaeological investigations carried out at 10 Watergate Street Row and 12 Watergate Street during the 1980s identified a complex series of medieval and post medieval features. The investigations were carried out by Simon Ward of the Grosvenor Museum and monitored the demolition of No 10 Watergate Street Row and the subsequent investigations in the yard to the rear.

To the rear of the plot, the ground was heavily disturbed by numerous pits with several substantial pits against the rear property boundary. One produced a great quantity of organic refuse, including arable weed seeds, fruit stones or pits, animal bones and insect remains. Pottery from the pit dates it to 13th century.

<2> multiple authors, 1984/85, Excavation Reports and Sites Observed (Article in Journal). SCH5812.

<3> Youngs S. Clark J & Barry T, 1986, Medieval Britain and Ireland in 1985 (Article in Journal). SCH5626.

<4> Grosvenor Museum Excavations Newsletter, 1987, Summary of Excavations in Chester (Newsletter). SCH6273.

<5> Ancient Monuments Laboratory, 1988, The Medieval Plant Remains from Rock-Cast Pits at Watergate Street, Chester, Cheshire: New information on food remains (Unpublished Report). SCH6940.

Samples taken from the pit containing the large quantities of organic refuse yielded cereal remains with fragments of cornfield weed seeds that had probably been milled with the grain, consumed and defaecated. There were some charred grains, peas and beans, perhaps from household waste. There were also fruitstones and pips, and small fregments of Allium epidermis and a leek seed, also waterlogged pea and bean fragments.The importance of the material is its good level of preservation that allows new insight into past diet and farming. (See also pages 59-69 in Source 1, SCH1186)