An Archaeological Research Framework for Chester CHESHIRE ARCHAEOLOGY PLANNING ADVISORY SERVICE An Archaeological Research Framework for Chester Ruth Beckley & Dana Campbell Version 2 18/12/2013 Project Log: Team Checked By Date Checked APAS Ruth Beckley 08/08/2013 Dana Campbell 08/08/2013 Jill Collens 16/08/2013 Rob Edwards 18/09/2013 Historic Mike Morris (all periods) 11/10/2013 Environment Alison Heke (Roman) 11/10/2013 Team Gill Dunn (Roman) 11/10/2013 Julie Edwards (Med/Post Med) 30/10/2013 Simon Ward (Saxon/Med/Post 20/11/2013 Med) Consultants Peter Carrington (Roman) 26/09/2013 Sue Stallibrass 19/11/2013 An Archaeological Research Framework for Chester Contents Acronyms ................................................................................................................................................ 3 An Introduction to the Research Framework for Chester ...................................................................... 4 Broad Themes Agenda ............................................................................................................................ 8 The Prehistoric Research Agenda ......................................................................................................... 10 The Romano‐British Period Research Agenda ...................................................................................... 17 Saxon Research Agenda ........................................................................................................................ 31 Medieval Research Agenda ................................................................................................................... 41 Post Medieval Research Agenda ........................................................................................................... 55 Industrial Research Agenda .................................................................................................................. 70 Bibliography .......................................................................................................................................... 82 2 | Page Cheshire Archaeology Planning Advisory Service An Archaeological Research Framework for Chester Acronyms APAS: Archaeology Planning Advisory Service HER: Historic Environment Record HLC: Historic Landscape Characterisation LDS: Local Development Scheme NHPP: National Heritage Protection Plan NPPF: National Planning Policy Framework PAS: Portable Antiquity Scheme SSSI: Special Site of Scientific Interest UAD: Urban Archaeological Database VCP: Very Coarse Pottery 3 | Page Cheshire Archaeology Planning Advisory Service An Archaeological Research Framework for Chester An Introduction to the Research Framework for Chester Introduction The Research Framework for Chester presents a series of period‐based research themes that are specific to the City and to add to the regional and national research frameworks. It includes both research objectives and methodological priorities for future investigations. The Research Framework has three core objectives: To inform master planning in the city, To inform and provide a context to development‐led archaeological mitigation, To inform and direct future research programmes. A recently produced strategy for developing Research Frameworks (English Heritage, 2013c) has identified several issues that should to be addressed when writing including: Research Frameworks need to underpin the current planning framework (NPPF) and evidence base (HER; archival research) Improve understanding of the built environment, particularly the recent archaeological record The need to engage with advances in information and communication with a view to improving publication and dissemination. The need to provide a holistic approach to research that can be answered by professional archaeologists & specialists as well as community and academic groups. National Strategies English Heritage has recently produced a series of thematic research strategies, including two period‐specific strategies for the Prehistoric and Roman periods, a thematic Industrial Strategy document and a general strategy for archaeological research in an urban environment (English Heritage, 2010a; 2010b; 2010c). The former includes a number of goals that are of particular significance to Chester (English Heritage, 2010a): 3.1 Developer‐funded Research The opportunity provided by the large body of unpublished major excavations in the city centre to produce synthetic studies to develop further understanding of the significance of the city’s historic environment. 3.3 Survival of Early Form and Fabric in Historic Towns The significance of the adaptation and reuse of urban space, as demonstrated by the resilience of Chester's natural and man‐made topography and its building pattern during thousands of years of development and change. 3.6 Coastal Towns and Historic Ports The visible evidence for Chester's maritime role is relatively recent, but a rich and mainly untapped archaeological resource survives below ground and requires further investigation and analysis. 3.7 Providing the Evidence Base for Regeneration and Renewal The component parts of this project – the Urban Archaeological Database (UAD), terrain model and characterisation provide an evidence base for master planning exercises in advance of proposed major regeneration schemes in the city. The Research Framework assists in identifying the significance of the historic environment in each part of the city, enabling regeneration schemes to be based on a sound understanding of that significance. 4 | Page Cheshire Archaeology Planning Advisory Service An Archaeological Research Framework for Chester Regional Strategies At a regional level, the Research Framework for Chester refines the broad research goals set out in the Research Agenda and Strategy for the North West of England (Brennand, 2007). There are a number of thematic research priorities that reflect Chester’s importance in the region at certain times, for example: The origins, strategic function and end of the Roman fortress, its material culture and architecture, and its relationship with the surrounding population. The development of Chester as a strategic power base for the emerging Saxon state. The high potential for the integrated analysis of a provincial multi‐period urban centre through its exceptionally well‐preserved settlement form, topography, archaeology, material culture, built heritage and documentary evidence. Local Strategies At a local level, the Research Framework for Chester is built on the products of the Chester UAD Project and existing site and period‐based research agendas for the city. From these, additional thematic research priorities specific to the city, are apparent (Archaeology Planning Advisory Service, 2010): As a base for centralising political authorities seeking domination of the Irish Sea Province in the Roman, Saxon, Norman and medieval periods. As an economic centre for maritime and land‐based trade, craft and industry. As a social and cultural centre as the first tourist city, the role of entertainment, leisure, retail and commerce, and as a place of worship. Chester’s relationship with its hinterland, agriculture, the environment, settlements and settlement hierarchy, local trade and communications. Where applicable, the aims of the Research Framework relate to the Archaeological Character Zones developed by the UAD Project. The Character Zones surmise the archaeological potential of a defined area and act as a resource assessment for the City. They consider the predominant archaeological features and heritage assets within an area, and act as an introduction to the detailed information compiled in the UAD. The process of creating the Chester UAD has increased accessibility to this knowledge substantially and we are better placed now to fulfil the original remit of the agenda ‘to identify gaps in our knowledge, assess the potential for addressing these, and defining research initiatives’. Current Planning Framework The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was introduced in 2012 to manage sustainable development within the planning system and includes a positive strategy for the enhancement and management of both designated and non‐designated heritage assets (DCLG, 2012). The NPPF replaces earlier national policy documents relating to the historic environment, including Planning Policy Guidance Notes 15 and 16 (1990‐2010), and Planning Policy Statement 5 (2010‐2012). Section 12 of the NPPF covers policies relevant to the historic environment and considers their conservation and management to be a material consideration in the planning process. The Research Framework for Chester is intended to underpin and support decisions by the Planning Archaeologist for development planning purposes. Research Framework Structure This document is divided into seven main sections. The first includes research aims and priorities that are associated with broad themes such as geology, planning policy and archaeological archives, followed by six based on the broad archaeological periods presented in Table 1: 5 | Page Cheshire Archaeology Planning Advisory Service An Archaeological Research Framework for Chester Period Date Range Prehistoric pre‐AD 43 Roman AD 43 – 409 Saxon AD 410 ‐ 1065 Medieval AD 1066 ‐ 1539 Post Medieval AD 1540 – 1799 Industrial AD 1800 ‐ Current Table 1: Archaeological and Historical Periods used in this Agenda Each Research Agenda presents research questions derived from the UAD Project