York Historic Environment Record

A watching brief on inspection pits dug to the south and west of the property on Leeman Road which is known as the Old Laundry. The variation in the depth at which natural sub-soil was encountered, almost 4 metres in some places, over such a relatively small area, may suggest that there has been a period of man-made alteration to this horizon at some time in the past. The olive green material laying over the natural sub-soil could possibly have been scoured away in trenches 1 and 2, whilst contamination may have altered its appearance slightly in trenches 6 and 7. It is probable that the entire build up above natural sub-soil in this area dates to the 19th century. Contamination was a major feature of many of the excavations and it must be noted that the deeper trenches 5 and 6 went, the more pungent the smell became. York Archaeological Trust [assessment & evaluation reports] Marwood R/1997/Report on an archaeological watching brief at The Old Laundry, Leeman Road, York.