York Historic Environment Record

The pond was in existence by 1798, when it is first depicted on John Tuke's map as a rectangular pond (Tuke 1798). It also appears on the Ordnance Survey First Edition 6-inch scale map of 1853 as roughly square in shape. Its regular plan suggests that it had been deliberately constructed, presumably to supply water to the cattle on the pasture. By the late 19th century it was depicted as having a sub-circular shape (Ordnance Survey 1893), perhaps indicating that it had been re-cut by this time.

NMR Information

Summary description
Disused pond, still subject to seasonal flooding, on Walmgate Stray. The pond is shown on John Tuke's map of 1798, was evidently maintained and slightly modified in the 19th century, and held water into the later 20th century. It may be of medieval or later date and could have been used for watering livestock on Walmgate Stray. It was largely destroyed by the construction of a cycle path across Walmgate Stray in the 1980s.

Full description
(SE 6178 5056) Site of medieval or post-medieval pond.
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).

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)

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

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