York Historic Environment Record

A deep 3m square shaft sited over a proposed pile cluster was excavated to natural sub-soil, encountering a maximum of 9m of archaeological deposits. Evidence was found of structural activity on the river bank in the Roman period. Above this was a build-up of material, organic lenses interleaved with alluvial silts, suggesting the accumulation of material in waterlogged conditions separated by episodes of flooding and pointing to marginal use in the Anglian period. Anglian pottery was found on site. A timber revetment, dating to the Anglo-Scandinavian period was revealed. A mixture of dumping and build-up in the 11th and 12th centuries was then succeeded by the construction of a substantial limestone wall of 12th century date, running parallel to the river. There appeared to be no deposits contemporary with the use of this river wall. A large robbing cut broke through the body of the wall. Demolition and dumped deposits dated this episode to the 14th century. Dumping continued in this area through the 15th century. Some attempt to drain the land was made in the 16th century. Garden deposits, also found in a larger excavation were encountered approximately 1m below ground surface. These gardens, garden features and buildings, documentary sources suggest, belonged to the house of the 18th century York architect John Carr. A later phase of building was likely to represent a 19th century warehouse. RCHME microfilm PRN 2293 (not located). NMR sources: Britannia : a journal of Romano-British and kindred studies inc. consolidated index for volumes 1-25 (1970-1994) Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies XXI/1990/326 Interim : bulletin of the York Archaeological Trust 14.1/1989/7-12 York Archaeological Trust annual report /1988-1989/24 York Archaeological Trust annual report /1989-1990/24