York Archaeology Online Collections

Items

• P0760 8 Chapter House Street
  The earliest layers encountered during excavation comprised a garden soil above which there was a layer of demolition derived material. This may relate to a period of re-construction during the 17/18th century and the plaster fragments noted could have been part of Archbishop Holgate’s original school. During these excavations, several fragments of pottery, dating from the 16th to 20th centuries, were recovered. These, together with several fragments of human bone and skull, suggest that the site has been levelled with material from nearby, possibly the cemetery of St. John-Del-Pyke, and that material was dumped as part of a ground clearance project.
• P0742 Hungate Development, Trench 19
  See 2000.1-14 YORYM One of 14 individual site codes of the Hungate Development.
• P0753 57 Goodramgate
  A limestone wall was uncovered under the north-eastern wall of the building. This formed either a sill beam for a medieval timber framed building or the foundation for an early post-medieval brick wall built directly over the limestone wall. Both these walls lay parallel to the existing south-west wall of the building, but on slightly different alignments to the present north-east wall. A brick wall found within the building was associated with this early brick building. Other deposits within the building were seen to relate to early earthen and mortar floors, to waste debris associated with metal-working and to later structural features.
• P0742 Hungate Development, Trench 18
  See 2000.1-14 YORYM One of 14 individual site codes of the Hungate Development.
• P0742 Hungate Development, Trench 16
  See 2000.1-14 YORYM One of 14 individual site codes of the Hungate Development.
• P0748 5 Dewsbury Terrace
  A number of bones were found by contractors below the floor level of a basement whilst cleaning around the top of pressure piles that had recently been sunk against the sides of load-bearing walls in order to consolidate the building. The bones were animal and fish bones and the deposits from which the bones were derived appear likely, on the basis of the three sherds of pottery recovered, to be of medieval date. The origin of the deposits is likely to be of either build-up or dumping during the medieval period.
• P0742 Hungate Development, Trench 15
  See 2000.1-14 YORYM One of 14 individual site codes of the Hungate Development.
• P0742 Hungate Development, Trench 14
  See 2000.1-14 YORYM One of 14 individual site codes of the Hungate Development.
• P0742 Hungate Development, Trench 13
  See 2000.1-14 YORYM One of 14 individual site codes of the Hungate Development.
• P0742 Hungate Development, Trench 12
  See 2000.1-14 YORYM One of 14 individual site codes of the Hungate Development.
• P0647 Hungate Development (Phase 3)
  2000.1-14 YORYM, is the composite site code for the Hungate Development; 14 individual codes. The archaeological investigation in advance of the major redevelopment scheme in the Hungate area of York involved desk-top study, borehole and engineering test pit analysis and trial excavation. See 1999.253 YORYM for phases 1 and 2. The archaeological evaluation involved the excavation of 14 trenches. Well-preserved organic deposits were recorded at depth in a large number of the investigative trenches and engineering holes. Evidence for a possible natural ridge extending south from the modern street, The Stonebow, towards the River Foss was also recorded as well as a possible natural valley or stream that flanked the south-west side of Hungate. This may have continued in use into the medieval period as a King’s Drain or perimeter ditch for the Carmelite Friary. In all but one of the trenches a sequence of deposits which dated from the Roman period to the present day was recorded. The features which were dated to the Roman period included a sandstone structure which may have been a culvert or a wall, a grave, a cobble surface associated with a ditch, possibly part of the Roman road leading from the south eastern gate of the fortress, and a number of pits and evidence of dumping in the River Foss. A cobble surface of the Anglian period and a number of contemporary dump deposits were located close to the northern edge of the site. Evidence of timber buildings fronting Hungate in the Anglo-Scandinavian period was found, with rubbish pits and dumping in the area to the rear of these buildings. Occupation in Hungate continued into the medieval period and the area to the east of the street appears to have remained open and was used for dumping and horticulture. The northern limits of the King's Fishpool were established. Evidence of two ecclesiastical buildings was recovered. Excavation revealed burials within the graveyard of the medieval parish church of St John in the Marsh together with possible remains of the church building. Structural elements, pits and dumps which were thought to relate to the Carmelite Friary included a substantial stone wall built in the 13th century which was interpreted as part of major terracing operation. Post medieval deposits included evidence of terraced houses, horticulture and industrial activity. Following the demolition of the parish church and the Dissolution of the Carmelite Friary, part of the site became open ground which was reflected in the build up of horticultural soil and dumps which sealed medieval features. A series of road surfaces thought to represent Hungate were also encountered. A dump of relatively clean material was thought to have related to the canalisation of the Foss. The remains of 19th century housing, some of it cellared, were found in most of the excavated trenches. These buildings were cleared in the 1930s and the site was occupied by buildings which were used for light industry. A territorial army depot and an ambulance depot were also constructed on the site. This development had truncated post medieval deposits over part of the site.
• P0742 Hungate Development, Trench 33
  See 2000.1-14 YORYM One of 14 individual site codes of the Hungate Development.
• P0742 Hungate Development, Trench 11
  See 2000.1-14 YORYM One of 14 individual site codes of the Hungate Development.
• P0742 Hungate Development, Trench 1
  See 2000.1-14 YORYM One of 14 individual site codes of the Hungate Development. See P0647.
• P0638 14 Skeldergate
  Three boreholes and six test pits demonstrated that archaeological deposits on the site survived to a height of c. 1m - 1.50m below ground surface. Sandy silts deposited in the medieval period were recorded in two of the test pits. Brick walls, probably of 19th century date, were also encountered. A watching brief observed the excavation of thirteen trenches dug to underpin a wall of a property to the southern edge of the site together with a series of pile trenches. In these trenches there was evidence that an undisturbed sequence of deposits dating from the Roman, Anglo-Scandinavian and medieval periods survived on the site. The quality of evidence recoverable from pile trenches was compromised by the method of excavation. Little dating evidence was recoverable and it was difficult to make comparisons between the stratigraphy in each pile trench. Since the quality and archaeological potential of these deposits had already been established by evaluation work carried out in 1991 it is surprising that only a watching brief with limited recording was specified as the requirement for this site. Timbers driven in to the upper surface of natural sands were observed to be sealed by layers of laminated clays and cobbles possibly representing surfaces. These are likely to date from the Roman period. Anglo-Scandinavian pottery was recovered from some of the material interpreted as occupation deposits but it was not possible to determine the scale of activity in this period. Deep deposits of organic build -up were dated to the medieval period. Two massive limestone walls were recorded. The exact relationship between the two walls was not possible to determine due to disturbance from the piling operations, but they were bonded with identical mortar indicating they had formed parts of the same structure which could have been a riverside building or a series of retaining walls. Part of the wall aligned east west had already been excavated in 1991 and was founded on a raft of horizontal timbers and dated to the 12th-early 13th century. Deposits accumulated to the north of the wall indicated intensive occupation, and comprised a culvert and a series of dumps. Those to the south of the wall represented a series of build-up deposits. Further walls were recorded and interpreted as internal walls of a separate structure. A substantial wall was built directly above this second structure and this wall was interpreted as the eastern wall of a riverside building, possibly a warehouse. A series of sand deposits dating to the 13th -14th century sealed all the structural elements. Further dumps were recorded and appeared to derive from demolition sources. A hearth and floors together with a robbed wall indicated continued occupation of the area. In the 14th-15th century there was a change in the type of hearth constructed on the site. Four almost identical circular brick lined ovens or furnaces were constructed and suggest industrial activity. Structural elements and occupation deposits continued to be represented into the 15th-16th century. Relatively little post medieval material was recorded on the site and any found was on the lower terrace of the site. A number of brick cellars or cellar infills were seen across the site and dated to the 19th or 20th century.
• P0698 4-7 Parliament Street
  A lift shaft had been excavated without any archaeological monitoring. Three sections of the shaft were recorded. This archaeological salvage work recorded a considerable build up of deposits dating to the Anglo-Scandinavian period on a site which is located mid way between the Viking Age streets Ousegate and Jubbergate. Remnants of six wattle fences or walls were revealed in section and at least one of them was likely to represent part of a building. The remaining deposits, all of which were waterlogged and largely organic, were likely to have been dumped material in and around buildings located in what was likely to have been a back yard area of a property.
• P0683 Brook House, Byland Abbey
  Fragments of two separate stone wall foundations were observed for buildings pre-dating the existing Brook House. A layer of demolition debris may havel derived from the earlier of these buildings. Too little of the structures was visible to make a meaningful interpretation of their function but the proximity of Long Beck and a stone lined medieval drain may suggest that they were associated with milling.
• P0772 NCP Car Park, 64-76 Skeldergate
  Eight boreholes and three trial pits were observed, and well preserved organic deposits were recorded in all of the boreholes and one of the trial pits. The deposits were dated from the Roman to the medieval periods. Evidence of natural terraces lying parallel to the River Ouse was noted. These terraces had been enhanced with thick levelling deposits in the Roman period and there was evidence that substantial Roman buildings may have stood on these terraces. In addition there appears to have been a valley along the north west side of the area indicating the presence of a tributary stream that ran down to the River Ouse. Further deep, complex and well stratified deposits were encountered in all nine evaluation trenches and included waterlogged organic remains. Very intensive occupation of the site was recorded for the period 11th-15th/16th centuries. Deposits related to structural remains of buildings fronting Skeldergate together with back yards where pit digging and dumping had occurred.
• P0660 73 Low Petergate
  The foundation level and one course of the north west wall of 73 Low Petergate were observed and appeared to date to the 14th or 15th century. This foundation may have served as a cill wall of this timber framed building. Beneath the modern concrete floor of the property an 18th century brick and tile floor was recorded.
• P0658 74 Eldon Street
  Archaeological evidence here indicated that prior to the establishment of the existing street layout in the 19th century the area is likely to have been fields from the Romano-British period onwards.
• P0681 Land off Cook's Row and Springfield, Scarborough
  Evidence recorded at the site demonstrated the development of this plot of ground from the medieval through to modern periods. The earliest activity reached in Trench 1 related to a stone wall, clay floors and hearths belonging to a building. Subsequent parts of this structure were robbed of building materials and alterations were made including the laying of cobbled surfaces and a possible stair foundation. The robbing of this building(s) marked the virtual abandonment of the site for occupation purposes. In Trench 2 waterlogged stream deposits within the channel of the Damyot beck were recorded. A stone built culvert was constructed and attempts were made to in-fill the old channel of the Damyot. Parts of the culvert were later robbed and the dumping of large amounts of waste and debris at the site subsequent to its abandonment for occupation purposes. Garden soils were found above these deposits. The ownership of the site and its major buildings during the medieval period is not certain though this may have been the Franciscan Friary who are known to have held land immediately to the west. Certainly the demise of the site occurs at around the time of the reformation.
• P0726 5 Rougier Street
  Archaeological deposits dating from the 13th/14th century to the 20th century were recorded within an area excavated for a lift shaft. The deposits included evidence for several phases of building on the site and appeared to relate to properties on Tanner Row or Tanner Street. The earliest deposits were a series of sands which may have formed floors within a 13th century building. By the late 14th or early 15th century the area was characterised by dumping and pit digging. Dumping of domestic rubbish continued into the 16th century before a building with stone foundations was constructed on the site. A brick surface dating from between the 16th - 18th century may either have been part of a garden path, or a floor within the structure. Subsequently the building was demolished and the area returned to use as a dumping ground. The foundations of what may have been an 18th century timber warehouse which was repaired or rebuilt in the 19th century, and may be the warehouse represented on the 1st edition OS map, 1852 were recorded. This warehouse was demolished in the 20th century and the area levelled used as a car park before it was occupied by the present office buildings in the 1980s.
• P0617 1 Middlethorpe Cottages, Bishopthorpe Road
  A watching brief observed that natural deposits occurred c. 0.50m - 0.80m below ground surface in this area and this suggested the truncation of archaeological material may have occurred when Middlethorpe Cottages were built (in the later 19th century). However a layer of cobbling may have related to an earlier building on the site. The tile assemblage with a date range of 13th - 16th century suggests activity on the site which could relate to the nearby manor house.
• P0612 Ebor Hall, Coney Street
  Parts of two walls built of limestone blocks were revealed beneath Ebor Hall and were thought to be of later medieval or post-medieval date. Outside the Hall, a number of brick walls belonging to post-medieval buildings were also revealed. The bulk of the deposits present were, however, seen to relate to the dumping of materials intended to raise and level-up the ground between Coney Street and the River Ouse.
• P0608 13-17 New Street
  Medieval deposits dating to the 11th-13th centuries were recorded in one of four excavated trenches. Some of this material was waterlogged and included rich organic remains and was interpreted as occuring in an area of garden or back yard. A timber found at the lowest level was thought to have been a sill beam for a small wooden structure such as a shed or outhouse. Post medieval demolition debris was recorded as having been used to raise the ground surface by between 1 - 1.50m and intensive modern activity had destroyed most of the post medieval deposits.