York Historic Environment Record

Walmgate Stray consists of about 32 hectares (79 acres) of pasture, located to the south-east of the centre of York. The main area of Walmgate Stray is known as Low Moor.

Field survey by English Heritage in April and May 2004 identified a variety of earthworks including medieval and Napoleonic ridge and furrow ploughing, First World War practice trenches, and a Second World War assault course.

It is probable that the extensive late Roman/ Anglian cemetery identified through excavations at Lamel Hill in 1847-48 and by the York Archaeological Trust in 1983 within the grounds of Belle Vue House continues under the north-western "arm" of Walmgate Stray.

NMR Information:

Walmgate Stray is an area of around 32 hectares (79 acres) of open pasture, of which part is the ancient common of Low Moor, which was enclosed in 1757 but probably has its origins in the 13th century or earlier. Following the abandonment of small, isolated parcels of common land elsewhere in Walmgate Ward, additions were made to the area of Walmgate Stray during the 1820s. Walmgate Stray contains a range of archaeological features surviving as earthworks dating from the medieval period to the Second World War. These include medieval ridge and furrow, confined to the parcels added in the 19th century (SE 65 SW 504, 505) and Napoleonic narrow rig on the common itself (SE 65 SW 501, 502, 503). The presence of the adjoining Imphal Barracks (SE 65 SW 520) led to the construction of First World War practice trenches (SE 65 SW 507, 508, 509, 510, 511) and a Second World War assault course (SE 65 SW 524).

Full description - WALMGATE STRAY and LOW MOOR (SE 617 502)

In 2004, English Heritage carried out an investigation and field survey at Level 3 standard of Walmgate Stray, as part of a national project to examine the heritage of England's urban commons (Event Record 1376159) (1).

Walmgate Stray is an area of around 32 hectares (79 acres) of open pasture, of which part is the ancient common of Low Moor, which was enclosed in 1757 but probably has its origins in the 13th century or earlier. Following the abandonment of small, isolated parcels of common land elsewhere in Walmgate Ward, additions were made to the area of Walmgate Stray during the 1820s. Walmgate Stray contains a range of archaeological features surviving as earthworks dating from the medieval period to the Second World War. These include medieval ridge and furrow, confined to the parcels added in the 19th century (SE 65 SW 504, 505) and Napoleonic narrow rig on the common itself (SE 65 SW 501, 502, 503). The presence of the adjoining Imphal Barracks (SE 65 SW 520) led to the construction of First World War practice trenches (SE 65 SW 507, 508, 509, 510, 511) and a Second World War assault course (SE 65 SW 524).

A report including a full textual description and analysis accompanied by maps, plans and photographs is available from the National Monuments Record, together with the rest of the project archive material (reference number SE 65 SW 500). (1)

Sources
1 Field Investigators Comments English Heritage: Urban Commons Project: Walmgate Stray survey

* W W M Nisbet, 1973, The Strays of York (Booklet). SYO2633.

Oswald, A and Pollington, M, 2012, Commonplace Activities: Walmgate Stray, an Urban Common in York (Article in Journal). SYO2159.

NMR, 2019, NMR data (Digital archive). SYO2214.