Source/Archive record SCH9048 - Archaeological Excavation Report: City Place, Chester

A strip and map excavation was carried out in 2020 on land off Queens Road within a car park to the south of the railway, at City Place, Chester, prior to the construction of a hotel. The excavation area was located at the north-western corner of the site and measured 16m by 7.9m in plan. A series of structural remains were uncovered during the excavation representing three phases of activity which appear to have occurred within a short time frame. The earliest phase is a series of culverts, likely managing the low lying land between the canal and brook. The second phase of development comprises a small brick structure which was constructed prior to 1843, it respects the alignment of one of the culverts and is depicted as trapezoidal in plan on the 1843 map; this structure was demolished by 1853. The third phase of development comprises a large brick structure. This ties in with a structure depicted on the 1873 OS map and demolished by the 1899 OS map. It is possible that all three of these phases relate to the development of the railway in this area from 1840. In summary, it appears that the culverts were put in place to raise the level of low lying areas between the canal and brook. A small temporary store or warehouse was then erected by 1843, with the eastern wall respecting the alignment of one of the culverts. This building was demolished by 1853 and replaced by a workshop by 1873, which was removed by 1899.