York Historic Environment Record

A watching brief on the excavation of a cable trench was undertaken by York Archaeological Trust on behalf of North Midland Construction. A cable trench was excavated in the footpath from existing ducting on Duncombe Place around the corner to the Jackson Stops estate agents on High Petergate opposite St Michael-le-Belfrey. The dimensions of the trench were approximately 40m long by 0.35m wide by 0.30m-0.45m deep. The walls exposed and recorded during the course of these works may relate to the old properties that originally extended from High Petergate along what is now Duncombe Place. The dark material below the footpath bedding would appear to be associated with the demolition of these houses, and the subsequent construction of Duncombe Place in the late 18th century. However, because of the limited 300mm wide window offered by the cable trench, it is very difficult to say if these walls definitely continue on either side of the excavation area, or to what depth. What few very broken up pieces of human bone were recovered were reburied and there were no signs of any articulated remains in the area of works. The brick, tile and pottery were typically 19th-century in date and accorded with material deposited during the demolition of post-medieval buildings. These items were not retained.