York Archaeology Online Collections

Items

• P5007 St. Anthony's Hall, Aldwark, York
• P1281 60 Lawrence Street
  Between 11th and 20th July 2005 York Archaeological Trust undertook an evaluation excavation at 60 Lawrence Street, York. This was in advance of a proposal to demolish the existing retail property and redevelop the site by erecting new flats and garages. In the three trenches excavated evidence was recovered for activity of an agricultural nature during the Roman period followed by disuse in the subsequent Anglian period. Activity, and possibly occupation of the site, recommenced in the Anglo-Scandinavian period and there was some evidence to suggest that this may have been continuous up to the present day. This site has produced valuable evidence for understanding the origins and development of this suburban area of York.
• P5497 Library Square, Museum Street, York
  Although badly disturbed in places by modern services and the Tree Pit 1 excavation was not observed this watching brief did provide some useful information about the area. In the main clearance area modern activity had removed any archaeological stratigraphy of any significance down to around 0.5m BGL and even here the clean dark soil (1016) recorded had suffered considerable truncation. The nature of Context 1016 is uncertain although its depth and cleanness may indicate that it is a build-up deposit of medieval date. The evidence from Tree Pit 2 is more interesting. Here there are traces of stone built walls, sometimes surviving to within 0.5m of the modern ground surface. Also in this pit were a number of thin but compact deposits (1000, 1008, 1014 and 1015) which may have been floor levels. Both walls and possible floor levels were sealed by pre-modern probable demolition material. The date of these walls and floors is uncertain but the demolition material may belong to the 18th century and the walls and floors to the 16th century or possibly earlier. If this is the case then they should belong to part of St Leonard’s Hospital which is known to have occupied this site in the medieval period. Although the hospital is well documented, being one of the largest and richest in England at the time, comparatively little is known about its layout and any opportunity to archaeologically investigate any part of this hospital would be useful.
• P5459 Electric Sub-station, York Minster Stoneyard, Deangate, York
  An excavation conducted at the York Minster Stoneyard encountered early 18th century construction activity and a mid 18th century building forming part of the prebendary of Strensall. The late 19th/early 20th century landscape clearance for the creation of Deangate and the current Stoneyard buildings was also identified.
• P0686 20-21 Newton Terrace, Bishophill
  Excavated deposits were interpreted as relating to the use of the former bailey of the Old Baile as an open space prior to the establishment of the existing street layout in the 17th century. These deposits could not be more precisely dated. The later deposits on the site related to the construction and occupation of the extant 19th century houses.
• 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.
• 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.
• P0592 Theatre Royal, St Leonard's Place
  Some evidence which pre-dated the construction of St Leonard's hospital on this site was found and dated to the 11th century. It comprised dumping followed by digging out and subsequent infilling of a large feature of unknown function. Evidence of the construction of the undercroft, which was part of the hospital of St Leonard's in the 12th century, was revealed together with associated alterations and maintenance of the undercroft. Alterations which probably date to the 16th century included the construction of two dividing walls between bays and the laying of an extensive mortar floor. The floor levels relating to the period 12th -16th century were truncated and there was evidence that the floor levels had been raised in the 18th and 19th century. The south eastern arch was partially blocked and the southernmost pier defaced in the 19th century Two test pits were dug to a depth of c. 1m below ground surface. In both pits an undated soil deposit was found to be sealed by a layer of mortar (found at different heights in each trench) which may have been a floor, possibly of medieval date. The deposits above this had probably resulted from alterations to the building undertaken in the late 19th century or early 20th century.
• P0506/P0527 18a-19 Fetter Lane
  Evidence of occupation on the site from the Roman to the modern period was found. A metalled Roman surface at a depth of only 1.10m below the modern street was identified with the suggestion of significant Roman deposits below. Post-medieval cellars had truncated some of the deposits.
• P0448 47-55 Tanner Row
  The earliest deposits encountered in this excavation was an area of mortar floor, which could be of Roman date. Build-up and dumped material, including a tile dump was dated to the medieval period. A brick-lined cess pit was probably of post-medieval date.
• P0438 76 Low Petergate
  Observation took place while a concrete and brick floor was removed. No archaeologically significant deposits were noted. No changes were made to the fabric of the 15th/16th century standing building.
• P0412 43 Blossom Street
  Observations were made of the removal of a varying depth of deposits, to a maximum of 2.50m, in the course of replacing floors at this property. Beneath the Victorian floor levels these deposits were interpreted as a series of dumps which dated from the Roman period. A post medieval brick lined well was also encountered.
• P0339 The Grapes PH, 4 King Street
  Modern material to a depth of 0.40m below ground surface was observed as a floor was replaced in the building. Some re-used limestone blocks of unknown date were observed in the rear wall of the building.
• A0875 32 Parliament Street
  Brick floors in a Victorian house constructed 1836-9 were observed during the removal of a more recent floor.
• A0801 20-21 High Ousegate
  In much of the observed area archaeological deposits had been truncated by modern buildings and service trenches. To the east of the area of excavation a mortar surface and limestone wall foundation were observed. These features were undated but may have been medieval. Borehole cores revealed material from intercutting pits with high organic fills, one of which was timber lined. These Anglo-Scandinavian features suggest the area was used for rubbish disposal from properties fronting Coppergate and High Ousegate.
• A0823 Wellington Row, flood alleviation wall
  Post-medieval features were observed, including drains, a cellar and floor in a contractor's trench.
• A0512 Tanner Row, Wellington Row
  A machined section was recorded. Limestone blocks were interpreted as part of a stone-lined and capped drain. This feature and road metalling were of Roman date and had already been recorded in the main excavation carried out on this site. Floor deposits and pit cuts were interpreted as associated with timber structures constructed on the north-west side of the road.
• A0707 52 Skeldergate.
  Beneath 1m depth of modern deposits the remains of cellars were observed. Build-up of late medieval date was also observed.
• A0684 Yorkshire Museum Hospitium
  Cobbled surface of earlier, post-medieval floor of the hospitium was observed during the replacement of an existing floor.
• A0626 Rear of 13-19 Grape Lane [Greenwoods Yard]
  A brick floor was observed and was interpreted as a part of a chapel.
• A0635 St Michael's Church, Spurriergate
  Evidence for pre-15th century floor level observed and the 14th century north aisle north wall was recorded photographically. Redeposited charnel deposits were encountered outside of the Church.
• A0543 1 King's Square
  Foundation trenches within the basement of this building close to the south-east gate of the Roman fortress were excavated. A sequence of pits and dumps from the 12th to the 16th century were excavated. The lowest features were cut into a series of clay dumps from which only Roman pottery was retrieved. This may have been the top of the Roman rampart but the small size of the excavation precluded definitive identification.
• A0541 St Andrew's Church, St. Andrewgate
  The evidence recorded largely related to the period after the Church had become redundant and reflected its diverse use. It comprised 17th century occupation of the building, floors and a latrine pit.
• A0540 Museum Gardens
  During the re-flooring of a store room approximately 0.20m of material was removed. No archaeological features were encountered.
• A0438 St Saviour's Church
  A record of all grave slabs was made during work carried out on the floor of the church. The roof timbers were also observed during the re-tiling of the roof.