On-Site Archaeology
The evaluation set out to answer the following questions, as laid down in the Archaeological Scheme of Investigation prepared by the City of York Council:
It is self evident, given the limited nature of the archaeological work that was carried out at this site, that no definitive answers can be given to the above questions. There are, however, two strands of evidence which give some indication regarding deposit survival, in addition to allowing something to be said about the topography of the general area in the past.
All of the deposits that were uncovered to a depth of 2.00m were post medieval in date (with the possible exception of the very lowest deposits, which may have been of late medieval date). This deep accumulation suggests that there is a considerable amount of material present above natural. It would also strongly suggest that deposits from earlier periods are likely to be present beneath the post medieval build-up in an undisturbed and potentially waterlogged form.
The construction of the stone wall observed in the section of Trench 1 is also instructive. Despite the fact that there were three offset courses visible in the two metres depth that was revealed there was nothing to suggest that these represent successive periods of build. The evidence from the side of the wall that was visible within the site clearly indicates that this is a feature of medieval date, presumably the wall of the Carmelite Friary.
The six courses of stone that are visible in Black Horse Passage are however slightly different in construction with more brick and tile levellers than on the inner face. There is a possibility therefore that the outer face may have been rebuilt in more recent times. It would not be possible to prove this point without further work at the site after the removal of the later brickwork which currently surmounts the original stone wall.
The general character of the wall perhaps tells us something about the topography of the area in the medieval period. If the offset courses that were observed in the inner face are mirrored in the outer face then the wall has a potential width of 1.64m at the 2m depth to which it was exposed. At this depth the wall is still abutted by post/late medieval deposition and as there is no sign of its construction level there is the clear inference that it has a maximum height and width which is much greater than that which was seen during this evaluation exercise.
It would seem reasonable to infer therefore that in the medieval period there was a relatively steep slope down from the Stonebow area to the River Foss itself, which has subsequently been in-filled and levelled in post medieval and early modern times, to form the lesser slope down to the river that is represented by modern Fossgate. The wall itself would therefore have been a very impressive stone monument running down the slope at 90 degrees to the River Foss, and delineating the perimeter boundary of the Carmelite Friary.
see also Copsey 1995 - http://www.carmelite.org/chronology/york.htm
and Hungate Archaeological Project: Carmelite
Friary