York Historic Environment Record

Evaluation trenches and building recording An archaeological evaluation, which consisted of trial trenching and building recording, was conducted by Northern Archaeological Associates on behalf of Mandale Properties Limited during August 1999. The trial trenches were located within the courtyard at the rear of 17-19 Skeldergate, York. The site lies within the south-west part of the medieval city and adjacent to the west bank of the River Ouse. Stratified medieval deposits were encountered within both trenches, directly overlain by 18th and 19th century structures. Trial trench 1 was located towards the rear of the courtyard and was excavated to a depth of 1.5m. Part of two substantially robbed stone walls (120 and 121) of medieval date were revealed, orientated east-west, at a depth of 1. 43m below the ground surface, 7.56mOD. A stone drain (126) post-dated wall 120 and was in turn sealed by a dump deposit (117) which contained pottery of 13th to 14th century date. The top of the medieval deposits lay 0.7m helow the ground surface, at 7.83m OD. These deposits -were overlain by the remains of a sequence of brick structures of 18th and 19th century date. These tops of these structures survived 0.6m below ground surface, at 8.42m OD. Trial trench 2 was located in the courtyard immediately to the rear of 19 Skeldergate. The trench was excavated to a maximum depth of 1.5m, (7.64mOD) where traces of a series of surfaces were revealed along with the remains of a substantial masonry wall (206), the top of which survived 0. 67m below ground level, at 8.5m OD. A sequence of deposits of later medieval date (1350-1500) lay against the face of this wall. These deposits were directly overlain by a series of brick walls and floors of 19th century date which survived at a depth of 0.4m below ground surface, 8.76m OD. These latter structures had been subjected to substantial disturbance in the modern period. The existing standing buildings comprising 17-19 Skeldergate were examined and recorded, but do not appear to be of any great merit or age. No 18 Skeldergate dates to the late 18th or early 19th century and appears to be the earliest of the group based upon constructional and cartographic evidence. It has however been heavily altered hoth internally and externally and few original details now survive. No 19 Skeldergate would appear from cartographic evidence to be c.1900 in date. On the basis of the results of the trial trenching it would appear that stratified later medieval deposits survive relatively close to the existing ground surface and that early post-medieval deposits have been truncated by redevelopment in the late 18th and 19th centuries. It is clear that any substantial ground disturbance associated with the construction of foundations and services would have an impact on the upper part of the medieval sequence on the site. This impact would need to be mitigated through a programme of selective excavation following deniolition and clearance of the existing buildings on the site. NMR source: CBA Forum : the annual newsletter of CBA Group 4 Continuation of: Annual newssheet/CBA Group 4. Library has incomplete set. 15 Forum 2000.