York Historic Environment Record

Ryedale Archaeology Services Ltd undertook a watching brief following the collapse of part of the garden retaining wall, constructed of of rough-built stone bonded with cement, at the base of the rampart of the city wall. The rampart had been modified to form a roughly level platform that split in two aong the north-east section of the City Wall, one forming a walkway along the base of the wall and the other a ramped descent to the garden. Along the north-west side of the city wall the bank narrows and forms a walkway along the base of the wall. The wide platform immediately behind the corner tower had been planted with Budleia which were cut down and had affected the integrity of the retaining wall, of which the central section had collapsed. The wall is likely of recent construction and may not be the same as the wall shown on the 1852 Ordnance Survey map. The wall was constructed of reused stone, possible derived from the Ingram mansion or form stone derived from repairs to the cathedral.