Items

Advanced search

P5506 Gawthorpe Manor, Harewood
P5007 St. Anthony's Hall, Aldwark, York
A0738 2 Coffee Yard
"The excavations took place in and around a standing medieval building while building restoration and redevelopment work were taking place. Fragmentary evidence was found for structural activity prior to the construction of the hall and hospice ranges. Limited dating evidence suggests a 13th-14th century date for this activity. A stone-lined well was found to the south-east of the hall and in addition tile hearths were found close to the south-east entrance of the hall's screen passage. This indicates that the arrangement of the buildings associated with these hearths, which were last fired in the period 1320-1380, must have differed greatly to the layout of the 14th century hall and hospice ranges, which has continued to the present day. A foundation of the south-west wall contained pottery which dated it to the 14th century. There was evidence of further structures associated with the hospice range, which may represent a building fronting on to Stonegate. The building called the 14th century hall was a rectangular building with a hall to the north-east and a service range at the other end, separated by a screens passage. The 14th century building was demolished, and some of the material robbed from its foundation trenches was likely to have been used in the construction of another hall in the 15th century, which was slightly wider than the earlier building. The presence of a very large tile hearth south-east of the hall indicates the presence of a large building adjacent to the hall(s). Archaeomagnetic dating suggests the hearth was last fired in the period 1360-1390, indicating that the hearth and associated building was contemporary with the 14th century hall. This dating does nothing to dispel the notion that the hospice and the 14th century hall were built in one operation in or soon after 1360. Bricks in the final floor surface indicate that the south-east range was still in use in the 16th century; this implies that the south-east range was retained in the 15th century rebuilding of the hall. A concentration of pit and linear cuts in the screens passage are thought to indicate a change in use to a public right of way. No dating evidence was collected from these features. Levelling deposits dating to the 17th century were recorded in the courtyard area. A brick structure had been constructed in the eastern corner of the courtyard. This was demolished and replaced in the 18th century. An oven was built in the cellar of the building forming the north-west side of the courtyard probably in the 18th century."