York Historic Environment Record

Between 17th November 2006 and January 8th 2007 York Archaeological Trust maintained a watching brief on large scale machinesite stripping in advance of the redevelopment of Blocks A, B, and C of the Hungate (York) Regeneration Project (HYR). This work also included observations made when an exploratory machine cut was excavated in order to investigate a probable obstruction encountered during the sewer diversion works between one of the caissons (MANHOLE 2, YAT Trench 4) and one of the coffer dams (MANHOLE 1,YAT Trench 5). Although fragmentary remains of brick walls were noted in the Block C zone and a brick wall recorded in the Block B zone could be correlated with an orchard wall observed on the 1852 O.S. map of the area it appeared that much of the 19th century housing known to have existed along the eastern extents of Palmer Lane had been removed in the 20th century. This may have taken place during the clearances of the 1930s or during the redevelopment of the 1950s. Certainly associated with the 1950s redevelopment are the site-wide levelling deposits which seem to have utilised both domestic and industrial waste to raise the then existing ground level by at least 1.5m, probably in order to combat problems posed by flooding. No certain archaeological remains of any great significance were encountered but there were hints that archaeology of some importance may survive at a lower level than the basal levels reached to facilitate the present redevelopment.