York Historic Environment Record

Two trenches demonstrated that around 1m of modern overburden is present across the area evaluated. Below the overburden is up to 0.4m of rubble, almost certainly deriving from the demolition of buildings previously occupying this area on the west bank of the River Foss. Map evidence indicates this had occurred by 1941.The concrete, cinder and brick surfaces encountered appear to be the remains of this yard, while the succession of surfaces found in Trench 2 provides some indication of development or changes in the use of space within the yard. Large areas of the surfaces remain in situ and in good condition. Further excavation may therefore expose more detail regarding the position, function and development of structures and zones within the yard and river side area. The surfaces were left in situ and beelow them it is likely that there is evidence associated with the canalised River Foss, and the course of the river leading to the Castle Mills appears to have been infilled in the second half of the 19th century, probably not long after the demolition and clearance of the mill buildings in 1856.