York Historic Environment Record

A detailed watching brief which was accompanied by a small amount of excavation work was carried out during September and October of 1998 on the site of the 12th century undercroft at the Theatre Royal. The undercroft was formerly a part of the medieval hospital of St Leonard. From the work carried out several phases of activity were recorded which numbered eight in all. Evidence for the first phase came from 11th century dumping which was followed by a digging out and subsequent infilling of an unknown feature. The second phase of activity was the construction of the undercroft itself. Phase three saw further building activity thought to be due to alteration or maintenance work. The fourth phase related to what is thought to be an internal re-ordering of the undercroft tentatively dated to the early 16th century. The features of this particular phase included the construction of dividing walls and the laying of a mortar floor. Phase five deposits were indicated by small scale dumping and possible demolition works and could be associated with the reformation and the alterations known to have taken place at this period in time. Phases 6 through to 8 were all Post Medieval and modern in date and largely consisted of the raising of the floor levels and modern developments such as the inclusion of toilets and a bar. NMR info: RCHME Microfilm Index Number 7767 Yorkshire Museum accession code: 1998.333. CBA Forum : the annual newsletter of CBA Group 4 Continuation of: Annual newssheet/CBA Group 4. Library has incomplete set. 51-2 /1998 York Archaeological Trust Johnson M/1998/Theatre Royal, St Leonard's Place, York: results of an archaeological investigation/Report 1998/53.