Archaeological excavations in Grosvenor Park

From Monday April 24 until Friday May 19, University of Chester archaeology students will be learning practical fieldwork skills from local professional archaeologists.

The excavation is run by West Cheshire Museums and is a partnership project between Cheshire West and Chester Council and the University of Chester’s Department of History and Archaeology.

The training excavations have been running since 2007 with more than 330 students taking part, learning how to excavate and record the remains of nearly 2,000 years of activity within the area of the modern park. Their enthusiasm and willingness to engage with visitors has earned them much praise.

CHE_GRP07 2022 finds tray with griffin tile.JPG

As well as passing on skills to the archaeologists of the future, the project aims to find out more about the historic landscape surrounding Chester’s Roman amphitheatre and how the abandoned amphitheatre influenced the development of the area where the Church of St John the Baptist and Grosvenor Park now stand.

The remarkable discoveries made since 2007 include a Roman road leading towards the amphitheatre, a very large Saxon ditch, and a substantial medieval stone wall and ditch running north-south across the park, which probably enclosed the precinct surrounding St John’s Church. In the late 16th century Sir Hugh Cholmondeley converted buildings at the eastern end of the precinct into a grand house that was later destroyed in the English Civil War; evidence of this destruction has also been found along with military equipment.

This year the excavation hopes to find answers to some of these questions:

• Is there any evidence for prehistoric buildings or farming similar to that found at the amphitheatre?
• Were there any buildings by the side of the Roman road?
• Was the Saxon ditch part of a fortification?
• What was happening in this corner of St John’s precinct in the later medieval period?
• What changes did Sir Hugh Cholmondeley make when he first bought the land?

CHE_GRP07 2022 uncovering medieval cobbled surface.JPG

If anyone would like to have a closer look at the excavations and the objects that have been discovered, an open afternoon will be held on Tuesday May 16, from 1.30pm to 4.30pm. The event is free, and no booking is necessary. Visitors are also welcome to view the excavation Monday to Friday, from 9.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 4.30pm, when students will be pleased to answer questions about their work and discoveries.

Students and staff will also be posting regular updates on social media - follow #DigChester to keep track of this year’s discoveries on:

• Twitter @cwacmuseums and @HistArchChester
• Facebook @GrosvenorMuseumAndStrettonWaterMill and @ArchaeologyChester
• or Instagram @HistArchChester

To find out more about the University of Chester’s degrees in archaeology, please visit here.