York Historic Environment Record

Archaeological evaluation in advance of a proposed development, at 20 Bishophill. Following an initial watching brief on bore holes an evaluation was required to assess the further potential of significant archaeological remains. Five evaluation trenches were initially proposed, but two trenches could not be completed due to on-site logistical issues. The trenches revealed a possible robbed out wall and a 4th-century buried soil at a depth of 1.6m in the south of the site. Evidence for cobble, gravel and mortar surfaces with redeposited fragments of painted plaster were revealed at a depth of 1m below ground level immediately to the east. In the north a large deposit of medieval garden soil was revelaed to at least a depth of 3.4m BGL, overlain by post-medieval soils and a possible brick and stone garden feature at a depth of 1.5m BGL. The medieval soils appeared to fill a large cut feature, possible a quarry dug for the construction of the nearby Holy Trinity Priory or 10th-century church of St Mary. Our understanding of the revealed deposits is limited by the agreed evaluation strategy to not unduly disturb unknown deposits through keyhole excavation. However, it is clear that the Site lies close to a mid to late Roman building, if not over a domestic dwelling within the colonia of Roman York. The pottery assemblage, painted plaster and other finds point to a relatively high status dwelling with the caveat that the material may have been imported from elsewhere in York.