| Title: |
Old Port Southern Tail, Chester. Archaeological Assessment. Final Report |
| Number of Pages: |
46 |
| Biblio Note |
Please note that this is a bibliographic record only, as originally entered into the BIAB database.
The ADS have no files for download, and unfortunately cannot advise further on where to access hard copy or digital versions.
|
| Publication Type: |
Report
|
| Abstract: |
The assessment concluded that although some of the existing inlets may have originated as local drainage features, it was likely that most of them were deliberately excavated in the early-mid 18th century to facilitate safe boat loading and unloading. Deliberate backfilling, probably during the mid. 19th century, would have ensured that any significant deposits, features or artefacts would have been sealed beneath later deposits. The potential for survival of good palaeoenvironmental evidence was also very high. At this stage, only fairly general indications of important areas could be determined, but infilled inlets (8), (12), (13) and (17) (marked on late post-medieval maps) were obvious points at which to start. Former port structures which may have partially survived below ground level included post-medieval buildings 18 (house gardens and timber yard), 19 (warehouse), 20 ('Old Cane') and 21 (building); most of the workhouse (15); the south-eastern portion of the post0medieval iron foundry (11); and possibly the substructure of the 'Cop' (an early defence feature, comprising a masonry and earth bank) (7, 16, and 24). The most important potential area for survival of archaeological deposits and features was the vicinity of the putative Roman Wharf (1). The finds encountered there in 1885-6 were located below 6.7m-8m beneath the present ground level. Within the former 'footprints' of the gas holders (2, 3 and 4); and beneath the line of the railway viaduct, it was considered unlikely that any archaeological deposits would have survived. Areas suggested as where possible survival of deep deposits may occur were the gas compound to the north-east of the possible Roman wharf; the trackway which ran parallel to the railway viaduct, beneath which a large gas mains ran; the post-medieval river wall (29) and peripheral area, where disturbance was known from the watching brief to extend to a depth of c.5m below exiting ground levels; and the river inlet (8) to the east of the possible Roman wharf, which may have been originally cut to some depth below present river level. Areas suggested as to where any Roman deposits would probably survive were between the gas holder sites, and to the north and north-west of gas holder (2) and the nearby gas compound. This assumed that the Roman site was somewhat more extensive than the areas of remains encountered in 1885-6. [Au(adp)] |
| Author: |
Matrix Archaeology Ltd
|
| Publisher: |
Matrix Archaeology Ltd
|
| Year of Publication: |
2000
|
| Locations: |
| Location - Auto Detected: |
Old Cane |
|
| Subjects / Periods: |
| Roman (Auto Detected Temporal) |
| Mid 19th Century (Auto Detected Temporal) |
| 18th Century (Auto Detected Temporal) |
|
MEDIEVAL
(Historic England Periods)
|
|
|
| Note: |
Date Of Issue From:
2000
Date Of Coverage From:
01
Date Of Coverage To:
01
Editorial Expansion:
Site name: OLD PORT, SOUTHERN TAIL, CHESTER
Study area:
Investigation type: Desk-based
District: Chester
Monument: GATE PIER. Post-medieval (1540-1901), [finds]. Roman (AD43-410), HUMAN REMAINS. Undated, BRIDGE. Post-medieval (1540-1901), BUILDING. Post-medieval (1540-1901), DATE STONE. Post-medieval (1540-1901), FEATURE. Roman (AD43-410), FLOOD DEFENCES. Post-medieva
Ngr: SJ39806620
Parish:
Postcode: BT236AZ
|
| Source: |
BIAB
(Archaeological Investigations Project (AIP))
|
| Created Date: |
18 Jan 2009 |
