Items

A0884 Rawcliffe Manor, Manor Lane, York
"Two campaigns of work took place. The first showed that the moat enclosed at least two buildings, probably surrounded by a palisade. These two timber buildings were of 11th-12th century date. The second phase of work completed the detailed excavation of the manorial complex found on the eastern platform. The focus of this settlement was an aisled hall, probably constructed in the 13th century. Ancillary rooms appear to have been added in the 14th century and occupation ceased with the demolition of the buildings during the early 16th century. The large amounts of pottery and other artefacts, most notably the seal matrix of Thomas of Rawcliffe, indicate that this was a high-status residence. Both the moated site and the aisled hall complex appear to have been associated with drainage ditch systems to allow cultivation of the surrounding poorly drained clay farmland. An earlier field ditch system dating to the Romano-British or Iron Age period was also identified."