CHESTER'S archaeologists have started new investigations in Grosvenor Park.
Several trenches are being excavated to locate the remains of a 19th Century town house demolished when the park was created in 1867. It is thought Cholmondeley's Mansion sat on the site of earlier medieval buildings attached to the collegiate church of St John, which was passed to Sir Hugh Cholmondeley after the dissolution of the monasteries.
Archaeologists also hope to establish how the area was used during the Roman period and will pay special attention to a ditch first found during the building of the Union Street Baths in 1899.
Prior to the building of retirement homes on the site of St Augustine's Convent in 1994, archaeologists uncovered a complete adult, human skeleton at the top of the ditch and further studies are now taking place to confirm the date, age and sex of the body.
Last year, the Heritage Lottery Fund awarded Chester City Council £50,000 towards preparing a bid which, if successful, could award between £250,000 and £5m to rejuvenate Grosvenor Park.
The archaeologist's finds will contribute to a conservation management plan, being produced as part of the council's stage one funding application under the national Parks for People programme.
The council is in the process of developing proposals for the park which will include restoration, new facilities and opportunities for training and voluntary community par ticipation.
The bid will be submitted in March 2008 and hopefully progress to a final stage two bid later that year.
The excavations are being used as a training opportunity for archaeology students from the University of Chester and will be open to volunteers. The work will be on view to the public and guided tours will be available.
For details, go to www.chesteramphitheatre.co.uk