It has long been realised that Lancaster occupied a pivotal position in the control of the Roman North West. A fort had been established by A.D. 80 on the hilltop where the castle and Priory Church now stand, to exploit its strategic position above the lowest fording point of the River Lune. A substantial extramural settlement stretched eastward from the fort along both sides of the Roman road (now Church Street) leading out of its east gate, but little was known of character, chronology or layout of this settlement.

Consequently, when the former Mitchells Brewery moved from their original site on Church Street in 1988 an archaeological evaluation of the site was undertaken. This was followed by two major excavations carried out in 1988 and 1992, which revealed a substantial sequence of Roman and medieval deposits, including a sequence of large timber buildings at the Roman street frontage overlain by more fragmentary medieval and post-medieval buildings. Behind the street frontage a surprising degree of activity was recovered, particularly from the Roman period, including buildings of some size, horticultural activity and rubbish pits. The whole area was divided into a number of plots which had clearly been established in the Roman period and exhibited a remarkable degree of continuity to the present.

A proposal to build a multiplex cinema on the site was recently submitted to Lancaster City Council. Planning permission was granted on the condition that those parts of the site not excavated in 1988 and 1992, including the plot between Anchor and Chancery Lanes, that were to be affected by the development proposals, designated Areas A, B and C, were subject to formal excavation. The excavation of the three areas was carried out between 26/5/99-3/9/99.

AREA A

The largest portion of Mitchell’s Brewery excavated during 1999 was Area A. This area measured approximately 32m by 15m, and was located immediately to the south of the 1988 and 1992 excavations. The upper-most surviving remains were those pertaining to the former brewery, comprising three parallel rows of concrete stanchions, several internal and external floor surfaces, a series of stone culverts and a brick-lined well. The earlier post-medieval period was represented by an enigmatic circular building framed within a square building of a slightly later date and a substantial boundary wall, aligned across the southern edge of the site. This wall appeared as a continuation of a shallow ditch located in the south-west corner of the site, interpreted as the southern boundary to a medieval burgage. A further medieval boundary, aligned north to south, was tentatively formed by a succession of intercutting pits. Many of these contained domestic refuse, presumably from medieval properties fronting onto Church Street. Along the southern edge of the site were a few similar features, but believed to relate to properties fronting onto Market Street. The presence of medieval structures was limited to a stone-lined well, which was partially recorded in 1992, and a small rectilinear building of dry-stone construction, thought to be a latrine. A large pit in the extreme south-east corner of the site was found to contain substantial amounts of burnt clay and charcoal, perhaps the remains of a demolished building. The general layers, and the mixed nature of the finds produced from them, indicated that much of Area A had been dedicated to small-scale domestic activity during the medieval period, possibly including gardening. Excavation of the underlying Roman stratigraphy revealed a picture similar to that of the medieval period, with the presence of refuse pits, several randomly-placed post and stake holes, and another of the enigmatic horticultural slots identified in the 1988 excavation. Of significance, the medieval burgage boundary mentioned above was seen to have a Roman precursor in the form of a boundary ditch in the same general location.

AREA B

Area B was located between Anchor and Chancery Lanes, and measured approximately 40m by 4m. A succession of walls, cellars and a well represented the post-medieval domestic occupation of the area. Below these features lay a thick soil deposit which had accumulated during the medieval period. Again, the mixed nature of the finds from this horizon suggested small-scale horticultural activity, as was seen across Area A. Two large medieval pits were encountered behind the Church Street frontage, although neither was completely excavated due to health and safety constraints.

The Roman stratigraphy was more complex, and four sub-phases of activity were identified. The latest Roman features, representing the later third and fourth centuries, comprised a sequence of four large pits, together with several smaller ones. The earlier third century was characterised by the construction of a metalled alleyway that extended along the western edge of the area. Associated with the alleyway was a possible small yard at the extreme north of the area, correlating with a similar feature revealed during the 1992 excavation further to the east. The remains of an insubstantial timber structure was located along the western edge of the alleyway, apparently respecting this surface. The second century was characterised by a possible timber building, an associated floor surface and drain, and a sequence of pits. Amongst the range of artefacts produced from these pits was an unusual stone carving of a bird. Evidence of early Roman activity in this area consisted of a very substantial boundary ditch, aligned north-west to south-east, in the southern part of the area, and an isolated cremation burial and a truncated beam slot/boundary ditch in the northern part of the area.

AREA C

Excavation of Area C, which measured 11m x 3.5m and was located along the eastern edge of the Brewery site, revealed a relatively simple stratigraphic sequence. The deposit below the brewery floor surface consisted of post-medieval garden soils, which were little disturbed other than by the insertion of a stone culvert and a wall. The area appeared to have been similarly dedicated to gardening activity throughout the medieval periods, with only a single medieval feature being revealed. The Roman period was represented by the presence of several insubstantial features, including four post holes, a small pit and a linear depression. Following assessment and analysis of the results from the 1999 excavations they will be combined with the results from the 1988 and 1992 digs to form an integrated monograph on the Mitchell's Brewery site due for publication in the next two years.

This current excavation work was carried out by the Lancaster University Archaeological Unit.