Tenement 4

Phases 4.1 - 4.3 (Trench 5)

The earliest deposits excavated in Tenement 4 comprised a series of dump, levelling or occupation deposits. Over these, a boundary or possible post-built building was constructed (Phase 4.2). Although earlier, this post alignment was on the same north-east / south west alignment as the north-west wall of Building 3.7.

The timber structure was subsequently covered over by a series of dumps and accumulation layers of sandy clays derived from metalworking (Phase 4.3).

Phase 4.4, industrial occupation and Building 4.4

Building in Trench 5

Following the period of dumps and accumulation in Phase 4.3 several pits were dug and a series of layers derived from metal-working activity began to build up (Phase 4.4). At around this time a building was erected in Tenement 4 (Building 4.4, not on plan). Its foundations were made from densely packed cobbles and small limestone fragments, aligned north-east / south-west, in a trench c. 0.6m wide. Associated with Building 4.4 was a patch of burnt clay or daub and compacted ash, interpreted as a hearth.

Phases 4.5, (Building 4.5) and 4.6, main excavation area

In Phase 4.5, possibly during the time Building 4.4 was in use, a workshop (Building 4.5) was erected in the north-east part of Tenement 4. The structural remains comprised a timber sill-beam, a post-pad, and several stake-holes (Phase 4.5). Above the sill beam, which was sunk into a narrow trench in the ground, the structure was probably of timber framed construction. The numerous layers and small pits (Phase 4.6) containing quantities of charcoal, fired clay mould fragments and metal slag that were found suggest that Building 4.5 had been a metal workers' workshop. In addition, a small rectangular pit containing a timber lining was found. The pit's function remains uncertain, although it may have been used for some kind of storage within the workshop.

Sill beam, Building 4.5

Phases 4.7 (Building 4.7) 4.8, 4.9, 4.10, and 4.11.

After a period of occupation (Phase 4.6), Building 4.5 went out of use and was apparently replaced by a more substantial structure (Phase 4.7), probably also of timber framed construction, but with stone and brick sill beam foundations (Building 4.7).

The structure continued beyond the area of excavation to the north-west, probably up to the assumed edge of the tenement. A series of post-pads was located within and between the north-east and south-west walls of the building, indicating that the upper part of the structure was timber framed, rather than of stone.

Several floors and many occupation deposits were excavated, although distinguishing workshop floors from dump and levelling deposits was difficult because they were mostly made up of compacted silt clay and mould debris.

In what is interpreted as the east corner of Building 4.7 there was a rectangular, stone-and brick-lined cess-pit containing cessy use deposits. The pit measured c. 1.4m. in length and c. 0.4m. in width. The south-west end of the pit partly projected into the building. A post-hole located at the north-east end of the wall (Building 4.7) parallel to Hornpot Lane suggests that there was a timber construction built to bridge the gap over the cess pit. This indicates that there was a garderobe in the corner of the room, discharging into the pit outside.

Curiously, a small culvert made from brick, tile and stone drained away from the south-west upper edge of the lined pit, apparently into the building. Unfortunately, where the culvert went is unknown, due to truncation by later activity, and it is not possible to say with any certainty what this feature was for.

Occupation of Building 4.7
During the occupation of Building 4.7 and its use for metal working (Phase 4.8), a number of floors made from compacted clay and silt were created and subsequently covered by layers of metal-working debris. The complex multiple layers of sands, silts and clays contained large quantities of metal-working debris such as mould fragments, metal slag, charcoal and coal fragments, as well as metal objects and off-cuts.

Small culvert, Building 4.7

Addition of floors
Later in its life improvements were made within Building 4.7 (Phase 4.9), including a more substantial cobble floor. Its remains comprised an incomplete patchy surface of cobbles, possibly the result of repairs and alterations over time.

The cobble floor was, in turn overlain by layer upon layer of metal-working debris and floors (Phase 4.10). Clusters of stake holes were found near to post-pads within Building 4.7, and possibly indicate where industrial activities were concentrated in the corner of workshop rooms.

Possible internal partition
In Phase 4.11 a cobble surface was created in a long shallow cut, aligned north-east / south-west, between the north-east and south-west walls of Building 4.7. Whether the feature was a sill-beam foundation, or a repair to an earlier floor, is uncertain, although its north-east / south-west alignment along one of the building's axes, supports the interpretation that it formed an internal partition within Building 4.7.

Phase 4.12, 4.13, Building 4.12

After a period of intensive activity in Building 4.7, the building was re-built, or at least altered extensively, incorporating parts of the earlier structure (Phase 4.12). Evidence in the form of post-holes and robbed-out post-pads showed that a timber building was built up to the north-east wall of Building 4.7 on a series of posts that formed two parallel north-east / south-west alignments (Building 4.12).

The alignments of pile clusters were c. 2.5m. apart. If the structure made use of existing standing walls from Building 4.7 on the north-east and south-east sides, then it could have been more than 5 x 5m, and may have continued further beyond the excavation limit to the north-west.

Occupation
During the building's use a layer of occupation debris accumulated within Building 4.12, and lots of small pits, trenches and clusters of stake-holes were dug into it (Phase 4.13). The location of these pits indicates that there were concentrations of activity, or structures, in specific areas of the building such as in the corners and at the edges of rooms.

Bryan Antoni cleaning a post-pad, Building 4.7

Phase 4.14, 4.15, Building 4.14 (=Phase 1.3)

Following a period of intensive use, the north-east wall of the Building 4.12 workshop was entirely re-built (Phase 4.14). A new foundation of stone and brick was made on top of the old sill beam foundation of Building 4.7. The remains comprised three sill-beam foundations and a number of post-pads and floors, and may have incorporated some of the post-holes and post-pads from Building 4.12. The footprint of the building covered an area c. 8m. wide and up to 12m. long, and was probably a two bay construction.

A pit c. 0.5m in diameter was found apparently incorporated as an integral feature within the inner edge of the north-east wall of the workshop. Careful observation showed that, visible on its inside edges, there were horizontal indentations caused by the hoops of a barrel lining. The barrel lining made the pit relatively water-tight, in this case probably to hold water for quenching metals or for making casting moulds.

Use of Building 4.14
Subsequently, in Phase 4.15, layers of occupation and build-up accumulated and several shallow pits were dug within Building 4.14. A large quantity of metal-working debris and objects was found, which give an insight into the kinds of items made in the workshops.

South-west wall of Building 4.14

Quenching or storage pit, Building 4.14

Phase 4.16, Pit digging

During the period that Building 4.14 was used as a workshop large, deep refuse pits were being dug in the area outside, beyond the wall at its north-east end (Phase 4.16). Pit backfills and dumps containing both domestic and industrial material were found in the north corner of the area of excavation in Tenement 4.

Phase 4.17, (Building 4.17) and 4.18

In Phase 4.17 pit digging ceased in the area north of Building 4.14 and a building was constructed (Building 4.17). The remains comprised a truncated tile hearth measuring c. 0.86 x 0.82m., deposits resulting from its use, and a substantial wall foundation made from large cobbles in a trench aligned north-west / south-east. Pottery recovered from some of these deposits indicates the building was constructed sometime in or after the 14th century.

Disuse of Building 4.17 and subsequent pit digging (Phase 4.18)
It seems that after a relatively short period Building 4.17 went out of use and the area north-east of Building 4.14 was once again used for pit-digging (Phase 4.18). A number of inter-cut pits truncated the hearth and floor of Building 4.17, and a series of dumps covered what remained of the structure. Pottery from the deposits suggest that this happened in the late medieval and possibly the early post-medieval period.

Phase 4.19, creation of yard surfaces

Finally, after a period of pit digging (Phase 4.17), the area north of Building 4.14 was made into a yard (Phase 4.19). The remains of yard surfaces and a culvert were built over the earlier pit fills and dumps (Phase 4.18). These comprised a short length of brick-built culvert, two small brick floors, measuring less than 1m. in length and up to 0.8m. in width, and a very small patch of a possible tile hearth or surface measuring 0.3m. x 0.3m.

Yard surfaces and a brick culvert, Phase 4.19

Phase 4.20, last phase of possible early post-med furnace.

Meanwhile, in an area nearer to Low Petergate, there was apparently a final phase of metalworking activity. The archaeological evidence consisted of a series of brick structures, floors and layers of metal-working debris (Phase 4.20). The structures are tentatively dated to the 16th and 17th centuries by the associated pottery and ceramic building material. At this time substantial brick floors and yard surfaces were created, and a large brick furnace was built alongside the north-west boundary wall Tenement 4. A brick lined storage or quenching pit was also found associated with the nearby furnace, and with layers of metal working deposits.

Post-medieval brick furnace