Description
Book SynopsisExcavations at Chester: Medieval and post-medieval development within the northern and eastern suburbs to c. 1900 brings together for the first time the results from archaeological investigations carried out within the suburbs to the north and east of the medieval and later City of Chester between 2002 and 2018. At sites investigated to both the north and east of the City, significant stretches of the defensive ditch cut during the Civil War of the 17th century were excavated. The results bring into question the accepted lines of these massive defensive outworks. To the northwest of the City, the findings demonstrate that the land remained agricultural until late in the 18th century and was not truly developed until the arrival of the canal network. To the north of the City, development of terraced housing had begun by the 1830s, shortly before the arrival of the railway network, in the area that would become the suburb of Newtown.To the east of the City, and north of the major route of Foregate Street, evidence for industry in the form of tanneries was uncovered on land that had otherwise been predominately agricultural. This area too witnessed an explosion in terraced housing from the beginning of the 19th century, and the remains of buildings relating to both entertainment and worship were also encountered.
Table of ContentsChapter 1: Introduction ;
Summary ;
The sites ;
Chapter 2: Tower Wharf and Taylor’s Boatyard 2007–2016 (Sites 1 and 2) ;
Introduction ;
Results ;
Natural deposits and features ;
Roman: c. late 1st to late 2nd centuries AD (Period 1) ;
Medieval: c. 12th to mid-15th centuries (Period 2) ;
Late medieval to early post-medieval: c. mid-15th to mid-17th centuries (Period 3) ;
Post-medieval: c. mid-17th to late 18th centuries (Period 4) ;
Industrial: late 18th to 19th centuries (Period 5) ;
Tower Wharf ;
Taylor’s Boatyard ;
Chapter 3: Sites off Trafford Street, Newtown 2015–2018 (Sites 3–6) ;
Introduction ;
Results: Former Newtown Bakery (Site 3) ;
Results: Oakbase House (Site 4) ;
Results: Land off Trafford Street (Site 5) ;
Results: Northgate Fire Station (Site 6) ;
Chapter 4: Witter Place, Seller Street 2002 (Site 7) ;
Introduction ;
Results ;
Natural deposits ;
Roman: c. early to mid-2nd century AD (Period 1) ;
Medieval to early post-medieval: c. 12th to mid-16th centuries (Period 2) ;
Post-medieval: c. mid- to late 17th century (Period 3) ;
Late post-medieval: 18th to early 19th century (Period 4) ;
The 19th century terraced housing B2, B3 and B4, and mill (B5) (Period 5) ;
Chapter 5: City Road 2007–2008 and 2018 (Sites 8 and 9) ;
Introduction ;
Results: 20 City Road (Site 8) ;
Natural deposits ;
Roman: c. late 1st to late 2nd centuries AD (Period 1) ;
Post-medieval: 18th century (Period 2) ;
Post-medieval: Later 18th to 19th century (Periods 3–7) ;
Results: City House (Site 9) ;
Mid-19th century cottages (B5) (Period 1) ;
Methodist chapel (B6) (Period 2) ;
Chapter 6: Discussion ;
Tower Wharf and Taylor’s Boatyard (Sites 1 and 2) ;
Trafford Street, Newtown (Sites 3 – 6) ;
Witter Place, Seller Street (Site 7) ;
City Road (Sites 8 and 9) ;
Bibliography
