York Archaeology Online Collections

Items

• P5031 Electricity Sub-Station, Silver Street
• P5003 Land adjacent to St. Saviour's Church, Hungate
• P5206 Dutch House, 4 Ogleforth, York
  During a watching brief at 4 Ogleforth, York the floor of a cellar was removed in preparation for the laying of a new floor. Examination of the exposed area revealed a number of linear backfills aligned north-west / south-east and north-east / south-west. These were interpreted as the backfills of beam slots. The depth at which they were seen and their alignment suggested that they were parts of timber structures of the 1st or 2nd century belonging to the Roman Legionary Fortress. A small area of burnt clay seen at the same level as the backfills may be a hearth within a building. No coherent structure could be defined from these fragmentary remains. In another part of this watching brief a limestone wall and slightly organic build up deposits were recorded in a newly excavated service trench. No dating evidence was recovered associated with this wall or the deposits was recovered but previous work in the vicinity may indicate a medieval date. Building recording The report details the results of a programme of building recording carried out in February 2009 at the Dutch House, Ogleforth, York. The Dutch House is a mid-late 17th century brick built structure, an early surviving example of its type. Although there is clear evidence of domestic usage in the 19th century and probably earlier, significant changes during renovation in 1958 have removed much earlier fabric and evidence of its development. In addition to compiling a comprehensive photographic and graphic record of the current form and condition of the building this survey has been able to throw some light on some hitherto unknown aspects of its history and development, particularly the detail of its domestic use from the 19th century and the extent and impact of a renovation scheme.
• P0742 Hungate Development, Trench 25
  See 2000.1-14 YORYM One of 14 individual site codes of the Hungate Development.
• P0742 Hungate Development, Trench 8
  See 2000.1-14 YORYM One of 14 individual site codes of the Hungate Development.
• P0742 Hungate Development, Trench 24
  See 2000.1-14 YORYM One of 14 individual site codes of the Hungate Development.
• P0742 Hungate Development, Trench 20
  See 2000.1-14 YORYM One of 14 individual site codes of the Hungate Development.
• P0742 Hungate Development, Trench 19
  See 2000.1-14 YORYM One of 14 individual site codes of the Hungate Development.
• 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.
• 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.
• P0510 1-5 Davygate and 9 Little Stonegate
  An evaluative excavation recorded deposits which dated from the 10th to the 20th century and demonstrated a complex development history of occupation with timber framed buildings and workshops where metal working took place. The upper levels had been disturbed by 19th century service trenches and modern construction on the site. A larger scale excavation of the area uncovered a sequence of occupation of the area from the 10th - 18th century. Including the complex development history of timber-framed structures part of which were workshops in which metal working seems to have taken place during the period 13th - 18th century. A watching brief found further evidence of medieval occupation including a hearth together with timber lined pits and dumps in backyard areas. A further watching brief monitored 140 separate machine excavated interventions which allowed the provisional reconstruction of the ground plan of a Roman barrack block. Anglo Scandinavian occupation deposits were recorded together with medieval occupation and sutuctural remains on the Little Stonegate and Davygate street frontages.
• P0317/P0414 47-51 Skeldergate
  A mortar and rubble spread of material at the base of one of the excavation trenches possibly derived from the demolition of a Roman building. Evidence of a building and ditch dating to the medieval period was encountered. A stone wall and a brick wall were of post-medieval date. Boreholes revealed deposits which indicated Anglo-Scandinavian activity was to be found on the site.
• P0788 41-49 Walmgate
  The area investigated formed part of the Walmgate street frontage and the associated backyards. Excavations with Time Team Live involved reopening an evaluation trench excavated in 1990 (1990.26) and extending it eastwards. Two post and wattle walls found were interpreted as belonging to adjacent buildings fronting Walmgate and dated to the Anglo Scandinavian period. Organic preservation in deposits from this period was good. Elements of late medieval and post medieval buildings were recorded including a hearth. Four test pits were excavated for engineering purposes and were recorded archaeologically. In these, deposits from the early post medieval period were recorded close to the existing ground surface. Elements of medieval or early post medieval buildings were identified. Underpinning work on the modern building occupied by a shop, together with service trenches, were also recorded. A larger scale excavation in 2000-2001 recorded a sequence of occupation from the Anglo Scandinavian through to the post medieval period. Timber buildings dating from the 10th to the 13th century were revealed to have been followed by a sequence of timber framed buildings dating from the 14th to the 20th century. Evidence of a 300 year history of metalworking, copper alloy casting and smithing, on this site was also found.
• P0161 16-20 Blossom Street
  Well-preserved, well-stratified deposits, including a sequence of Roman buildings and a road surface, were observed in contractor's trenches. A medieval pit and build-up deposits were also observed. Modern cellaring had been backfilled with material which included several architectural fragments. These may have derived from alterations made to various churches in York in the 19th century.
• P0274 York Castle Car Park
  "Two trenches each 20m long were excavated to locate and investigate the north gate to York Castle. Considerable disturbance in the form of 19th century brick prison walls and a Civic Centre basement constructed in 1939 but never completed had removed all trace of York Castle in this area. However, small areas of archaeological survival were located and contained deposits of Roman through to 11th century date. A compacted surface and two pits were Roman in date. A disturbed hearth and a rubbish pit dates from the Anglo-Scandinavian period. These deposits suggested occupation in the vicinity. A limestone feature of unknown date and function may be attributable to the medieval castle."
• A0613 Foss Islands Road / Lawrence Street
  ".. revealed new information on the eastern suburbs of York. Two phases of Roman activity included two large pits dug to extract the natural clay. These and the presence of 12 wasters of 2nd or 3rd C grey ware suggest that pottery manufacture was taking place nearby in the Roman period. No Anglian activity was found but a series of rubbish pits (including one with a wattle lining), west of a palisade trench, dated to the 10yh-11th C. A little later in the 11th-12th C, two post-built structures were erected, separated by a fence. All the occupation levels from these buildings had been destroyed by the ploughing which had taken place on site until the 19th C"