York Historic Environment Record

The archaeological watching brief at Hotel Noir, Clifton, York revealed minimal amounts of 19th century archaeology. This was comprised of red brick structural foundations associated with Hotel Noir’s 19th century terraced buildings and rear extensions. Natural was observed at a depth of 0.30m BGL at the rear of 3 Clifton Green- this area had been previously laid as gardens, as depicted on the 1853 Ordnance Survey map. No archaeological evidence predating the 19th century was observed during groundworks. A large, brown, salt glazed baluster ale jug with impressed decoration was observed inserted between made-up ground and 19th century foundation walls. The ale jug was incomplete with its handle and spout missing. The practice of deliberately burying or concealing items within the structure of a house is called immurement, the same the term used to describe the imprisoning of a person until death, entombing and enclosing within walls. The archaeological evidence suggests that the ale jug was deliberately immured sometime in the late 19th century, between the made-up ground and the foundation walls to the rear of 3 Clifton Green, Hotel Noir.