Source/Archive record SYO1208 - West Offices Station Rise York Eval OSA REPORT No: OSA09EV05
Title | West Offices Station Rise York Eval OSA REPORT No: OSA09EV05 |
---|---|
Author/Originator | On-Site Archaeology |
Date/Year | 2009 |
City of York Interference Index | 994 |
Abstract/Summary
An archaeological evaluation was carried out by On-Site Archaeology Ltd, in May and June
2009, at the site of a proposed development located at West Offices, Station Rise, York. A
total of five trenches were excavated in a variety of locations across the site in positions
agreed with John Oxley, Principal Archaeologist at the City of York Council, designed to
assess the degree of archaeological survival, with particular reference to truncation caused
by the construction of the railway station in the 1840s.
A trench located within the old trackbed contained only remains associated with the
construction of the railway station.
Two trenches excavated close to the Toft Green/Tanner Row boundary of the site encountered
the remains of a compacted pebbled surface, built directly over the natural. This is likely to
be Roman in date and is interpreted as either a courtyard surface or a minor road, parallel to
the main road through the colonia. In places this surface lay within 400mm of the modern
ground surface.
A trench located upon the top of the former station platform revealed a complex sequence of
Roman structures, some of which are almost certainly associated with the baths complex
recorded during the construction of the railway station. These were cut directly into the
natural, and were overlain by deposits associated with the construction of the platform. The
Roman structures were found at a maximum height of 13.56m AOD (approximately 900mm
below the modern ground surface).
The fifth trench was excavated to the rear of the war memorial. This trench contained a small
area of medieval deposits, the top of which lay 1.15m below the modern ground surface.
These deposits were a total of 0.30m thick and appear to represent the remains of
insubstantial buildings. The majority of this trench was occupied by features associated with
the railway station construction and use, including an in-situ length of railway track.
Although significant archaeological remains have been shown to survive on parts of the site
these are not considered to be preserved to such a degree to prevent development from taking
place. An appropriate scheme of archaeological mitigation will be required. This should
include the adoption of a sympathetic foundation design to maximise preservation of
archaeological remains in-situ, together with archaeological excavation coordinated with
construction works to enable preservation by record where disturbance is unavoidable.
Referenced Monuments (1)
- MYO712 YORK OLD STATION AND FORMER STATION HOTEL (Building)
Referenced Events (15)
- EYO4271 West Offices, Station Rise: evaluation trenches (Ref: OSA09EV05)
- EYO5030 West Offices, Station Rise: Trench 1
- EYO5031 West Offices, Station Rise: Trench 1, natural
- EYO5032 West Offices, Station Rise: Trench 1, Roman pebble surface
- EYO5033 West Offices, Station Rise: Trench 2
- EYO5034 West Offices, Station Rise: Trench 2, natural
- EYO5035 West Offices, Station Rise: Trench 3
- EYO5036 West Offices, Station Rise: Trench 3, natural
- EYO5037 West Offices, Station Rise: Trench 3, Roman structures
- EYO5038 West Offices, Station Rise: Trench 4
- EYO5040 West Offices, Station Rise: Trench 4, medieval
- EYO5039 West Offices, Station Rise: Trench 4, natural
- EYO5041 West Offices, Station Rise: Trench 5
- EYO5042 West Offices, Station Rise: Trench 5, natural
- EYO5043 West Offices, Station Rise: Trench 5, Roman surface
Record last edited
Sep 28 2021 2:11PM