York Historic Environment Record

Three trenches were excavated and four boreholes were observed during the archaeological evaluation. Trench 1 was located close to the George Street frontage. It revealed Roman, medieval and modern features to a depth of 11.43m. The earliest feature identified was a curvilinear gully which was rapidly backfilled, including fragments of hypocaust and tegula. This may indicate the presence of a substantial Roman building nearby. A later gully or ditch was then excavated and in turn backfilled. A possible late medieval yard was identified, which contained a stack of broken 15th century bricks. The foundations for Victorian brick terraces were uncovered. Trench 2 was positioned on the Chapel Row frontage. The earliest deposits, at a depth of 10.13m, dated from the 11th century. The deposits followed a sequence of dumps and levelling deposits of domestic refuse and waste construction debris. Shallow pits were excavated on occassion for the disposal of similar waste materials. Dumping activity continued in the post-medieval period, then Victorian terraced houses were constructed. The earliest deposit uncovered in Trench 3 was at a depth of 11.62m. Depth restrictions prevented it being excavated. Residual fragments of brick and Roman pottery were discovered, suggesting possible Roman activity in the area. Overlying this was medieval material which indicated dumping, and the excavation of pits for domestic refuse had occurred in the area. Two possible beam slots were recovered, possibly of 14th century date. Similar post-medieval and modern activity to that in trench 2 had occured.The boreholes suggested a general trend from fairly shallow archaeological deposits on the George Street frontage towards deeper, stratified archaeological deposits in the middle of the site, rising again towards Margaret Street. Additional NMR source: York Archaeological Trust annual report 10 26/1997-98