Monument record 9012 - Saxon Timber Building(s) and Pits, 1 - 11 Crook Street

Over the course of salvage excavations at 1 – 11 Crook St. between 1973 and 1974, a series of Saxon period features, including forty post holes cut into the latest Roman structures at this location were recorded (6). Formerly part of the barracks of the First Cohort, the arrangement of Roman buildings continued to exert a considerable influence on the topography of the site in the Saxon period because the area of the buildings formed raised platforms above the level of the alleyway between them. The post holes were seen to be arranged in two clear north – south rows, about 5m apart, but it was difficult to determine whether they represented one long structure, or two or more neighbouring buildings in a row (6). Three pits were also excavated, two seemingly irregularly shaped examples, and one sub-rectangular feature. Charcoal and animal bone were recovered, in addition to an important assemblage of Chester ware (1, 6).

<1> multiple authors, 1974, Excavation Reports and Summaries Sites Observed, 2/17 Strickland T J 1974 (Article in Journal). SCH5790.

<2> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, 1/287 Thacker A 1987 (Book). SCH3556.

<3> Carrington, P., 1975, Some Types of Late Saxon Pottery from Chester, 3/3-4 Carrington P 1975 (Article in Journal). SCH5792.

<4> The Society for Medieval Archaeology, 1957-Present, Medieval Archaeology, Webster L E & Cherry J 1975 19/220 (Journal/Periodical). SCH2131.

<5> Davey P J (ed), 1977, Medieval Pottery from Excavations in the North West, /14-17 (Monograph). SCH2158.

<6> Longley D, 1977-1978, Longley Archive, /no.551 (Paper Archive). SCH2005.

<7> Ward, S. W., 1994, Saxon Occupation within the Roman Fortress: Sites Excavated, 1971-81 (Archaeological Service Excavation & Survey Reports) (Monograph). SCH5486.

<8> Grosvenor Museum Excavations Newsletter, 1973, Summary of Excavations in Chester (Newsletter). SCH6229.