York Historic Environment Record

Between 23rd May – 20th June 2015 an archaeological watching brief was maintained during the machine cutting of a series of electrical cable trenches for new ground-lighting at King’s Manor, York. The trenches had nominal widths and depths of 0.30m and 0.50m respectively though in places were dug to shallower depths in order to avoid damaging in-situ structural remains – both ancient and modern - as well as a number of modern services. A further watching brief was maintained between 11th – 13th July during the excavation of twenty five small pits, by PTN Builders Ltd, to house lightening conductor earth rods. Archaeological features and deposits were encountered in both the trenches and earth rod pits. Two stone walls and a variety of deposits, including remnants of metalled surfaces, of probable medieval date were encountered in cable trenches to the NW side of King’s Manor and the courtyard. Excepting a very small quantity of residual pottery of Roman date no features or deposits of a pre-medieval date were reached. The wall to the NW side of the Manor would seem certain to relate to a part of the St Mary’s Abbey complex. The wall within the courtyard may be a demolished continuation of a 13th century wall associated with the Abbots Lodging – a section of which yet survives as part of the SW side of the existing library. Where encountered the medieval deposits occurred towards the basal parts of the trenches and with the exception of remnants of metalling, are difficult to interpret. Brick walls, drains and deposits of a post-medieval date were observed in most areas of the works and relate to activities associated with the present King’s Manor ranges of buildings.