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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.
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.
P0587 Land off Ousegate, Selby
The earliest feature observed above the natrual sub soil was a substantial ditch which may have had a defensive function and appeared to have been cleaned and well maintained before it became redundant. The fills of the ditch were dated to the 2nd or 3rd century and were followed by a series of episodes of levelling. Another ditch of Roman date ran at right angles to the larger ditch and was interpreted as a boundary or drainage ditch. This ditch was also backfilled and this action was followed by evidence of levelling. Ocupation deposits and a foundation for a building of uncertain date were recorded. Dumps dating from the 12th century were found to be cut by pits and ditches. Industrial waste, incuding waste form metal working had been disposed of in some of these features. There was abundant evidence of medieval building and occupation and it appeared that the medieval boundaries had continued to be respected by a succesion of buildings into the post medieval period. Buildings dating to the 17th/18th century, some with cellars occupied the site.
P0511 County House, Monkgate
The excavations revealed evidence for settlement within this area of Monkgate from the 10th or 11th c. through to the present day suggesting that activity associated with properties on the Monkgate frontage extended into the investigated area and illustrating the development of the Newbiggin suburb outside the eastern gate of the medieval city. Deposits demonstrate horticultural/agricultural activity and rubbish pits in the Anglo- Scandinavian and medieval periods. The area continued to be used as garden and yard with out-building with evidence of the dumping of metal working slag dating to the 17th or early 18th century. In the 19th c. the area was landscaped as gardens, and ash and clinker, possibly from St Maurice's vicarage, was dumped in the area. In the 1980s the area became a car park.
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.
P0283 Land to the rear of St Andrewgate/Spen Lane
Excavations reached a maximum depth of 1.80m below ground surface. The earliest deposits excavated dated to the 12th century. These comprised a surface and build-up above it in the western part of the site, probably representing a period of neglect. The first indications of a building fronting St Andrewgate were the remains of a floor and an internal division. These dated to the 13th century. A timber fence line and dumped material including stable manure also dated to this period. In the later 13th/early 14th century over a widespread area material was allowed to accumulate and dumped prior to the renewal of structural activity. At the western end of the excavation two adjacent buildings fronting St Andrewgate were identified. A deliberate levelling of the whole area occurred in the 14th century. Domestic refuse was dumped and disposed of in pits. Further building, either two adjacent buildings or one divided building, fronting St Andrewgate, was identified, following similar alignments to earlier properties. The occupation of the building(s) continued through the 15th century and was represented by hearths, a series of floors and internal building divisions. Part of the building was used as an industrial workshop. Mould fragments suggested the casting of metal, and hammer scale indicated the use of an anvil. A pit feature may have acted as a quenching pit. Numerous internal alterations were made to the buildings though the medieval period. To the rear of these buildings a ditch was identified dating from the late 15th / early 16th century. It may have acted as a property boundary, or an open sewer, although its fill gives no evidence of this function and it appeared to have been deliberately backfilled in one operation. Pits were found in the area behind the buildings and suggest the relatively intensive use of the "backland" area for the disposal of rubbish, although traces of a structure in the form of beam slots were also identified in this area. In the mid 16th century a mortar and tile floor was introduced in the building fronting St Andrewgate which sealed the possible quenching pit. A cess pit or soak-away also dated to this period. Metal-working waste was found in an area which may have been the backyard of the re-organised building. Further structural alterations were made, including a substantial re-build of the building. Foundations which may have been the base for a sill beam supporting a timber-framed building were revealed. At some point after this alteration metal working was again carried out within the building. Occupation of the building continued through the 16th century and was represented by a series of mortar floors and hearths. In the area behind the property there was a rough uneven yard surface, evidence of pit digging, and a property boundary defined by a series of post-holes, which were replaced by a later series. In the late 17th/early 18th century these were backfilled and a widespread levelling deposit covered the eastern part of the site. Alterations and occupation of the building fronting St Andrewgate continued through the post-medieval period. A stone-lined well was encountered near the St Andrewgate frontage. In the modern period the area was occupied by a chemical factory, a building suppliers and a scrap yard. Watching Briefs : Timber building and road surfaces were observed in contractor's trenches in St Andrewgate, and demonstrated that in the Anglo-Scandinavian or medieval period St Andrewgate was narrower than the modern road. A medieval wattle-lined pit and a cobble surface were observed during a watching brief which confirmed that the area towards Spen Lane was open land to the rear of properties fronting St Andrewgate. A well was found which was similar to the one found within the main excavation. The watching brief carried out while pile holes were excavated collected evidence of mortared limestone structures and cobbles and clay c. 3-4m below the ground surface which were intepereted as likely to have derived from buildings and occupation dating from the Roman period. A horizon of organic deposits across the site probably represented evidence of Anglo-Scandinavian occupation. Deposits from the medieval period encountered during the piling were seen to be similar to those recorded more fully during the excavation and derived from street front occupation of St Andrewgate and Spen Lane together with the development of gardens and yards with associated dumping of domestic and industrial waste behind in both the medieval and post medieval periods.