York Historic Environment Record

Report 1 of GPR survey Roman York Beneath the Streets Project An area of 34,975 m2 was surveyed within the Precinct of York Minster using Ground Penetrating Radar. The survey revealed traces of Roman barracks in the northern corner of the legionary fortress, but elsewhere the Roman remains were too deep to observe. Nonetheless, evidence for a significant range of later features was obtained, including: modern utilities, Victorian park and garden features, features related to the Ingram Mansion and estate (the palace, the tennis court, bowling green and the fishponds), and details of the complex development of the Archbishop’s palace (including evidence for significant new remains). No unambiguous evidence for the Anglo-Saxon minster was detected, but like the Roman remains, in some areas they are likely to have been too deep to be detected, though these can now be predicted. The report triangulates the GPR features with other data from earlier cartography, excavations, and historical records to help identify them. It has also taken the opportunity to digitise the past cartographic information and present a new interpretation of elements of the Minster Precinct.