Monument record 9032 - St Olave's Church, Saxon Period

Similar to St Bridget’s Church (CHER 9053) to the north, it is assumed that the Church of St Olave (or St Olaf) had a pre-conquest foundation because of its Hiberno-Norse dedication (1). Unlike St Bridget’s, St Olave’s still stands, on the south side of the junction of St Olave’s Lane and Lower Bridge St. (5). The sandstone masonry of this modest church is obviously of considerable antiquity, apart from sections restored after a fire in the twentieth century, but it is unlikely to date to earlier than 1030, as that was the year the Norwegian King Olaf Haraldsson was martyred by King Cnut (4). It is mentioned as a gift to the Abbey of St Werburgh in 1119 (1, 2, 3), and continued throughout the medieval and post medieval periods and is still being used today as an exhibition centre (5). Late Saxon period pottery has been found in the churchyard and nearby (CHER 9013/39, CHER 9013/46).

<1> Alldridge N.J, 1981, Aspects of the topography of early medieval Chester, Alldridge N J 1981 64/5-31 (Article in Journal). SCH5931.

<2> Richards R, 1947, Old Cheshire Churches, Richards R 1972 /836-843 (Book). SCH2309.

<3> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, Ormerod G 1882 1/344-345 (Book). SCH1389.

<4> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, 1/257-258 Thacker A 1987 (Book). SCH3556.

<5> Mason, D. J. P., 2007, Chester AD 400-1066: From Roman Fortress to English Town (Book). SCH6530.

<6> Earthworks Archaeological Services, 2010, Proposed Structural Remediation Works to the Sandstone Retaining Wall at St. Olave's Church at Lower Bridge Street, Chester, R2951 (Client Report). SCH5227.