York Historic Environment Record

Building recording & Trial hole report EC Harris have been commissioned by Taylor Woodrow Development Ltd to carry out Archaeological Building Recording at 64 – 74 Skeldergate, an area which is to be redeveloped for domestic accommodation. The work has been undertaken to a Project Design which was prepared in full consultation with the City of York Archaeologist, John Oxley. The development site is within an area of York which has been inhabited since at least the 12th century. The first map of York shows houses in the development area but the precise location of these is not shown. On 17th century maps, such s those of Speed (1610) and Richards (1685) houses are shown lining Skeldergate and Fetter Lane, with gardens to the rear. The standing buildings on the site are modern in date. The main structures are a group of early 20th century warehouses built in brick, with two-storey offices along Skeldergate and part of the Fetter Lane frontage, and large warehouses to the rear The north-east end of the Fetter Lane frontage is occupied by small, late 19th / early 20th century brick workshops, set backj from the street. Immediately north-east of the warehouse entrance is a mid 20th century brick house, apparently comprising domestic accommodation over a shop, with bay windows at first floor level. The south-west end of the Fetter Lane frontage in the study area is open, with single-storey prefabricated timber workshops behind. Due to change of use and refurbishment there are very few features of historic note within this complex. However, it is a good example of the type of small scale activities which would have been present on this water front site throughout history.