York Historic Environment Record

Excavations and a watching brief were undertaken by J Hinchcliffe (Dept of Environment) during development on land off Tanner Row and Railway Street (now George Hudson Street). Two small trenches were dug close to the street frontage at 27 Tanner Row, across the line of the main Roman road leading to the legionary fortress. The road was 9.5m wide and had six successive surfaces. Three building phases along the south-east side of the road were recorded; the first is dated to the earlier 2nd century, the third (mid 3rd century) appears to have enroached onto the road. The road seems to have gone out of use in the 4th century or later, when several pits and a gully containing 4th century pottery and coins and animal bone were cut into its surface. A sixth re-surfacing took place after these features were infilled. In the 12th century a robber trench removed the wall of the third phase of building. Towards the Railway Street frontage (25 George Hudson Street), 19th century cellars had removed the post-Roman deposits. However traces of Roman structures were observed, notably two opus signinum (mortar) floors; a substantial [presumably stone] wall was associated with one of these floors. 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 3/1972/310 Yorkshire Philosophical Society : annual reports /1971/14 Yorkshire Philosophical Society : annual reports /1972/18 Location of deposit model points uncertain. Boreholes under EYO2495 may be related. NMR entry 635600 Railway St has also been assigned to this event number. Archaeological excavations Department of the Environment /1971/67 The Yorkshire archaeological journal Continuation of: Yorkshire archaeological and topographical journal 44/1972/221