Bloghttps://her.york.gov.uk/blogWelcome to my blogen-USTue, 28 Oct 2025 15:24:38 GMThttp://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss60cloudscribe.SimpleContent.Syndication.RssChannelProviderJoin us for the York Annual Archaeology Conference 2025!

2025 has been an exciting year for archaeology and heritage in York - come and find out the latest news and discoveries in our city at West Offices on Saturday November 15th from 9:30am - 1pm.  Free tickets available here!

This year’s featured excavations are:

Mount Royal Hotel, where York Archaeology has found rare evidence for York’s prehistory, possible Roman buildings and a ‘head-scratcher’ of a mystery.

Tax Office, 23 Piccadilly where On-Site Archaeology has found evidence for York’s elusive Anglian period

York Station Gateway, where York Archaeology has been exploring more of the Roman cemetery that the station is built on top of.

...read more]]>https://her.york.gov.uk/blog/2025/10/28/york-annual-archaeology-conference-2025https://her.york.gov.uk/blog/2025/10/28/york-annual-archaeology-conference-2025Tue, 28 Oct 2025 15:24:38 GMTArchaeology ConferenceClifton Ings

Between 2021 and 2022 York Archaeology were commissioned by the Environment Agency to monitor construction of the Clifton Ings Flood Alleviation Scheme.

A rubbish dump associated with Clifton Hospital was discovered. This included items which reflect aspects of the lives of patients and staff such as toothbrushes, game pieces and stamped crockery.

Clifton Hospital was built in 1847 as the North Riding Lunatic Asylum. In 1920 it changed its name to North Riding Mental Hospital as shown on the stamped crockery images. It was demolished in 1994.

...read more]]>https://her.york.gov.uk/blog/2025/01/31/clifton-ingshttps://her.york.gov.uk/blog/2025/01/31/clifton-ingsFri, 31 Jan 2025 11:21:41 GMTCliftonMental HospitalEnvironment AgencyGuildhall

Between 2012 and 2021 extensive archaeological investigation has taken place at the Guildhall prior to and during the refurbishment of the main hall, and the construction of south and north annex.

The Guildhall complex is situated on the north-east side of the River Ouse. It is located immediately outside of the Roman fortress, just up-steam from the Roman river crossing and was the site of a medieval Augustian Friary.  

In 2012, as part of the York 800 celebrations, York Archaeological Trust opened three trenches as part of a community excavation; inside and immediately outside the Guildhall building and within the Mansion House cellar. They examined the footings of the Guildhall on top of Common Hall Lane (an underground passageway leading to the river), looked to see if archaeology survived beneath the Mansion House Cellar and characterised the archaeology beneath the ground surface at the front of the hall. These trenches could only access the upper metre or so of archaeology on the site.

Further investigations took place in 2014 at the Hutments site, adjacent to the Guildhall by AOC Archaeology. The Hutments name derived from a temporary wooden building that stood on the site from the 1930s until 2014. This initial investigation, partially carried out as a community project, was an attempt to characterise and identify the archaeological make-up of the upper 1.5m in this part of the site.   

However, it was during the construction phase of the south range (York Archaeological Trust 2019) and north annex that the majority of archaeological investigation took place and where the most important findings were made.  Between 2018-2020 several phases of archaeological monitoring and excavation were undertaken by York Archaeological Trust. The North Annex works are listed under EYO8004. There are several reports available on the HER.

The most recent analysis report brings all of this investigation together and provides the most detailed results of the works. The findings will be published on Internet Archaeology and will also be distilled into an easy to digest version for the layperson by the end of the year.

...read more]]>https://her.york.gov.uk/blog/2024/07/23/hfhfhhttps://her.york.gov.uk/blog/2024/07/23/hfhfhTue, 23 Jul 2024 13:21:58 GMTGuildhallRomanFriaryExcavationRed Tower gets a new roof! Red Tower on the City Walls

In May 2023 our stonemasons began the task of re-roofing The Red Tower, which stands at the northern end of the Layerthorpe­–Walmgate stretch ...read more]]>https://her.york.gov.uk/blog/2023/10/25/red-tower-gets-a-new-roofhttps://her.york.gov.uk/blog/2023/10/25/red-tower-gets-a-new-roofWed, 25 Oct 2023 10:14:17 GMTCity WallsRed TowerNew inclusions to the HERThe Historic Environment Record is constantly updated with new archaeological events and associated reports. Here are a few new additions which may be of interest.

Late prehistoric and Romano-British landscapes

The final analysis has taken place on the Wetherby Road roundabout ...read more]]>https://her.york.gov.uk/blog/2023/08/30/new-inclusions-to-the-herhttps://her.york.gov.uk/blog/2023/08/30/new-inclusions-to-the-herWed, 30 Aug 2023 14:19:03 GMTRomanPrehistoricCity WallsWheldrakeQueen StWetherby RoadTower 35Heslington East2022 fieldwork - some highlights

It’s been another busy year for the archaeologists working in the City of York.

There have been over 70 events added to the HER which took place during 2022. These cover a huge range of locations, event types and results. Highlights include:

Further evaluation and excavation by York Archaeology at the former Mecca Bingo site on Fishergate and on the demolition site on Micklegate. Both of these sites are proving rich in archaeological resource including more modern archaeological features such as the remains of the 1930s Rialto Cinema.

You can access various reports on both of these sites through the HER relating to previous desk-based and evaluation work. Check back later next year for more on these.

York Archaeology also undertook a strip, map and record earlier this year at Regency Mews, Tadcaster Road with resulted in a surprising find of a Roman cask lined well. Activity on the site appears to have principally related to agricultural land management during the late 1st, 2nd and 3rd centuries. The excavation has the potential to contribute important new evidence for the land use and landscape character and development of Roman Dringhouses and the wider extra-mural area of York. 

On-Site Archaeology have been busy with the excavation of the Roman cemetery on the York Central site. This excavation saw the removal of over 100 burials (cremation and inhumation) although preservation on the site was very poor. The assessment of this material is not yet available.

On-Site Archaeology also carried out an evaluation and mitigation excavation at James St. The earliest activity identified during the investigation were three ditches of a probable Roman, late 1st to early 2nd centuries AD. An undated plough-soil horizon was also identified pre-dating one of the ditches but believed to be broadly contemporary with the other ditches. A possible structure was identified which may be of Anglo-Scandinavian date or as having origins within that period based on pottery recovered.

...read more]]>https://her.york.gov.uk/blog/2022/12/21/2022-fieldwork-highlights-https://her.york.gov.uk/blog/2022/12/21/2022-fieldwork-highlights-Wed, 21 Dec 2022 11:59:33 GMTFieldwork2022Archaeology ConferenceCity WallsExcavationGlimpses of the Roman civilian settlement in York
There are currently 3 recent sites of Roman discovery on and around Micklegate. These sites of discovery are indicated on this image of a map with star icons. The map depicts the Micklegate area and the city walls are indicated through a red line.

Intro

Roman archaeological deposits in York city centre vary in depth from 9m+ below current ground surface to less than 1m in some areas. The best archaeology is usually at depths of 2m+ protected from historic development and the majority of services.

Recent evaluation to inform planning applications on Micklegate, Toft Green and works by Openreach on Queen St have once again shown the quality and quantity of Roman archaeology surviving in the city. These sites are all located on the south side of the River Ouse within and immediately outside the Roman civil settlement on either side of Micklegate Bar.

Growth of the civilian settlement was particularly rapid in the late 2nd century, represented by the construction of new buildings and streets.  In the early 3rd century York was given the honorific status of Colonia. A gradual decline in population and the deterioration of standing buildings and streets appears to have occurred from the mid-4th century. The main Roman road from Calcaria/Tadcaster to the Legionary fortress ran through the Colonia in the Micklegate area.

The modern street of Micklegate was one of the major thoroughfares into York in the Anglo-Scandinavian and medieval periods. Micklegate was of particular significance as it led to the Ouse Bridge, the only bridge over the Ouse in the medieval period. 

Oven at 105 Micklegate

Micklegate

Investigations at 105 Micklegate between 2018-2021 included a borehole survey, ground-penetrating radar, an evaluation trench and recently a watching brief.

In 2018 York Archaeological Trust (YAT) undertook a borehole and ground-penetrating radar survey ahead of a planning submission for the demolition of the 1930s buildings and redevelopment of the site. This enabled a basic deposit model of the site to be created showing natural sands at 3.4m below ground level overlain by Roman occupational layers. 

In 2019 a trench was opened within the former car hire showroom. The Roman archaeology revealed within the trench consisted of a late 1st-2nd century small oven roughly constructed of heat-affected limestone, sandstone blocks and cobbles. The size of this oven suggests a use for serving domestic bread perhaps in a garden to the rear of a building fronting Micklegate.

Later phases of Roman activity were identified consisting of a building with three distinct floor surfaces suggesting the continuity of use over time. The building was tentatively dated to the 2nd century. A single pila was identified within the building comprising four stacked pedalis bricks – two stamped ‘LEG IX HISP’; the mark of the Ninth legion, which occupied Roman York between c. AD71 and AD120.  The pila and fragments of box flue tiles suggests the presence of a hypocaust system and a building with heated walls. The building appears to have been demolished in the late 2nd or early 3rd century.

Floor surfaces at 22 Toft Green (copyright OSA)

22 Toft Green

An archaeological evaluation by On-Site Archaeology (OSA) comprising two 1m deep trenches with sondages was undertaken in 2021 following a borehole survey at 22 Toft Green. The trenching revealed a complex sequence of Roman archaeological deposits including a small cobble post-setting, internal and external floor sequences and domestic dumping. Earlier structures and deposits are likely to be present here at greater depth. One of the trenches also contained a medieval oven-type structure.

Many fragments of animal bone were recovered largely dating between the 2nd and 3rd centuries. The zoo-archaeological material recovered from this evaluation is most likely all related to urban domestic refuse.  

Many pieces of Roman tile and brick were also recovered. Impressions of an animal paw print was noted on one tile/brick fragment with a fingerprint impression on another.

Further archaeological work will be undertaken on this site in the near future.

Queen St cobbles and calcified shoes (right)

Queen St

Ahead of a re-design of the York Station frontage utility companies are moving/re-aligning their services. The first stage of these works in January 2022 required Openreach to create a 3m deep access hole on Queen St close to Micklegate Bar outside of the city wall circuit. At c.1m in depth Roman in-situ archaeological deposits were revealed beneath the level of the existing cabling.

The Roman archaeology excavated comprised of domestic dumping deposits including organic layers and a series of intercutting pits. All of the deposits contained large quantities of Roman pottery. The rubbish pits/deposits were partly sealed by a layer of cobbles. A large number of amphorae sherds were recovered from the cobbles alongside a pair of calcified shoes.

The report on this work is currently in production and will be added to the HER in due course. Further works related to the Station Frontage are in progress, although most will not reach Roman levels.

...read more]]>https://her.york.gov.uk/blog/2022/08/16/glimpses-of-roman-york-https://her.york.gov.uk/blog/2022/08/16/glimpses-of-roman-york-Tue, 16 Aug 2022 14:20:20 GMTRomanMicklegateQueen StToft GreenYork Annual Archaeology ConferenceThe 2021 Archaeology Conference was held virtually on Saturday 13 November to an international audience.

7 talks were heard on a wide range of topics including archaeological excavations, community and academic projects.

All talks were recorded and can now be ...read more]]>https://her.york.gov.uk/blog/2022/05/20/york-annual-archaeology-conferencehttps://her.york.gov.uk/blog/2022/05/20/york-annual-archaeology-conferenceFri, 20 May 2022 11:59:46 GMTArchaeology ConferenceExcavations at Heslington EastBetween 2003-2013 a series of archaeological investigations took place at Heslington East on the outskirts of York (SE 638 508). This work began as an investigation to define a response to a proposed planning application to extend the University of ...read more]]>https://her.york.gov.uk/blog/2022/01/21/excavations-at-heslington-easthttps://her.york.gov.uk/blog/2022/01/21/excavations-at-heslington-eastFri, 21 Jan 2022 09:48:54 GMTHeslington EastWorld War II HER EnhancementOver the past few years there have been several projects which have enhanced the data held on the HER relating to WWII.

As part of the enhancement of the record the UK Pillbox Study Group supplied us with an updated record of modern defence sites within York. This included just over 100 new records being created – greatly boosting our information on various structures such as blast shelters, Stanton shelters and aircraft dispersal pens.

The last surviving aircraft dispersal pen in York is at Whitehall Grange associated with the former RAF Clifton Moor airfield. Several structures associated with Clifton airfield were subject to archaeological recording in late 2019. The structures recorded included sections of the runways and perimeter taxi-ways, a bulk petrol installation, a machine gun range and cannon ‘shooting-in’ butts, are associated with an expansion of the RAF airfield in late 1942.

The NRHE to HER project also contributed to the enhancement of WWII monuments on the HER. The additions from this project include a transport depot and airfield buildings at Acaster Malbis.

As part of the ongoing Raids Over York Project several public shelters have also been added to the HER. Additional information from this project will be added over time. One of the most interesting public shelters is perhaps at Station Rise. This shelter is cut into the city wall rampart and revealed part of the Roman bath house during excavation in the late 1930s.

Search tip - Use the term World War II rather than WWII to search for wartime monuments.

There are also many war memorials included on the HER such as the City Memorial. There are also memorials to the Korean and South African Wars.

]]>https://her.york.gov.uk/blog/2021/11/24/world-war-ii-her-enhancementhttps://her.york.gov.uk/blog/2021/11/24/world-war-ii-her-enhancementWed, 24 Nov 2021 11:02:09 GMTWorld War IIEnhancementINTERIM MagazineYou can now find all issues of INTERIM magazine by YAT here on the HER website. 

The issues span from 1973-2001 and contain a variety of articles on excavations across the city, conservation and research projects. Unfortunately, there is no ...read more]]>https://her.york.gov.uk/blog/2021/09/17/interim-magazinehttps://her.york.gov.uk/blog/2021/09/17/interim-magazineFri, 17 Sep 2021 08:29:02 GMTINTERIMWelcome to the City of York online Historic Environment Record View of Minster from City Walls

Welcome to our new online Historic Environment Record (HER) – an archaeological database of monuments (the term used to describe the historic structures and buildings) and interventions ...read more]]>https://her.york.gov.uk/blog/2021/07/30/welcome-to-the-city-of-york-online-historic-environment-recordhttps://her.york.gov.uk/blog/2021/07/30/welcome-to-the-city-of-york-online-historic-environment-recordFri, 30 Jul 2021 13:46:10 GMTWelcomeHER