York Historic Environment Record

A programme of archaeological investigation was carried out by York Archaeological Trust on groundworks associated with the erection of a new town house adjacent to 147 Mount Vale, on behalf of Helmsley Group. These works were undertaken as part of the conversion of the former Newington Hotel and associated outbuildings into residential units by GEM Construction (York) Ltd. Archaeological monitoring of trial pits took place on 2nd February followed by monitoring of foundation trenches commencing on 29th March 2017. From 3rd April 2017 the programme of archaeological works evolved into a full-scale excavation, this was completed in the area of the proposed new build on 28th June 2017. A watching Brief is planned to monitor forthcoming groundworks associated with the construction of the new build. The excavation revealed part of a Roman cemetery positioned on the southern periphery of the extensive Roman funerary landscape bounding the southern approach road to York’s colonia. Two possible cremations and seventy six in situ inhumation burials were recovered, many apparently buried in coffins and some with grave goods. The medieval land use was characterised by a thick plough soil horizon covering much of the site. Later activity relates to the construction and occupation of Newington Place, 147–153 Mount Vale, a row of late-Georgian town houses fronting onto Mount Vale, and activity within their gardens. As part of the conversion of Newington Place, 147–153 Mount Vale, into a hotel in the later 20th century an extension was built on the north-east side of the building range, across the area of excavation.