York Historic Environment Record

An archaeological watching brief. Mount Vale is positioned in a dip, downhill of the SW side of The Mount and the NW side of Tadcaster Road which is close to the line of its Roman predecessor. It lies a short distance from an extensive Roman cemetery which is known to extend at least as far south as Trenholme Drive, approximately 100m to the NE. Although no archaeological features were revealed the top of an extensive layer containing small abraded fragments of Roman brick and pottery was encountered below a sequence of deposits that clearly relate to the construction and use of the house and garden. The upper deposits are 19th and 20th century in date and include a single skin brick wall foundation which probably belongs to a former out building to the rear of the house. The make –up of the lowest deposit is indicative of well worked soil, most likely a plough soil. Being situated at the bottom of The Mount suggests theprobability of a colluvial element to the plough soil being washed downhill and settling in this area. Should the Roman cemetery extend this far to the SW it is likely to be sealed below a greater depth of later accumulation than found further up The Mount. As such archaeological potential in this area is significant albeit beyond the depths excavated during the course of the works at 204 Mount Vale. In view of the low archaeological impact of the ground works up to 4th April 2016 it was agreed with John Oxley, the City of York Council archaeologist, to step down the watching brief for the area below the existing rear extension. The footings and drainage channels where they extend below the existing rear extension are not intended to go to a greater depth than those monitored beyond it. The majority of excavation is that area is not expected to be to a lower depth than already achieved and is unlikely to extend to a point below the upper disturbed material, or c 0.5m BGL.