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On this page you can explore the development of the stratigraphy of the Walmgate site. Each bar
on the timeline to the right represents an individual phase or group of sub-phases. Click on the
bars to display a simplified plan and brief description of each phase. Click on the Data Record
link to display the full database record for the selected phase.
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Timber Buildings A to E and industrial activity
A sequence of timber buildings, Buildings A to E, was recorded within the two deepest parts of
the excavation area: Area Q along the Walmgate street frontage, and a small portion on the eastern
side of the site, which was to be used for a lift shaft. Buildings A and B
were located within the lift shaft area. Buildings C to E were located within Area Q, and were separated
chronologically by industrial deposits.
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Timber Buildings F and G
Timber buildings, Buildings F and G, overlaid the deposits recorded in Phase 1. These were located
within the two deepest parts of the excavation area, Area Q (along the Walmgate street frontage) and
the site of a lift shaft (for the building to be constructed on the site during redevelopment). These
were assigned to a separate phase as Building F was structurally different from the earlier buildings.
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Bank or platform construction, east side of site
On the eastern side of the excavation area a massive amount of dumped material was laid down to raise
the ground level. This was probably done to create a building platform for a later timber building,
Building H (see Phase 4).
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Timber Buildings H to L
A sequence of timber buildings, Buildings H, I, J, K and L, was constructed across the full width of
the excavated area along the Walmgate street frontage. Building H, which seems to have had a
domestic function, was constructed on top of the building platform created in Phase 3. Building I was
constructed on the Walmgate street frontage; this was replaced by Building J, which was itself
replaced by Buildings K and L. All these buildings were very short-lived.
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Industrial activities on open ground
There is a striking difference between the Phase 4 and Phase 5 land use of the area; the Phase 4
buildings were demolished and the area became open land, which was unused until the late 12th century.
The area was then divided into two; the westernmost portion was used for industrial activities, ovens
and dumping, while the eastern part was primarily used for dumping, although several linear features
and fence lines criss-crossed its north end.
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Timber Buildings M and N on the Walmgate street frontage
After the clearance of the kilns in the north-west corner of the excavation area two timber buildings
(Buildings M and N) were constructed on the Walmgate street frontage, parallel to it and side by side.
Building M was constructed first and had an annexe attached to its southern side; this contained a
large hearth and was probably a kitchen or 'hot' work area for some craft activity. Building N seems
to have been used for iron smithing.
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Building O and scattered industrial activities
Building M was cleared and a stake-built structure, Building O, was erected were Building M had stood.
To the east of it a property boundary was laid out. Late in the phase (Phase 6.3) a sunken work area
was laid out and other industrial activities carried on in the area between Building O and the property
boundary. A cobbled surface was laid in the backyard and a series of large dumps accumulated.
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New property division and timber-framed Buildings P to R
Initially, two new boundary walls were constructed, implying a major reorganisation of the property
divisions on the Walmgate street frontage at the start of Phase 7. A sequence of timber-framed
buildings, Buildings P, Q and R, was then constructed, utilising these new walls. A cobbled yard
was also laid out behind Building P, and dumps built up behind Buildings Q and R. Building R was
interpreted as a warehouse.
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Building R and new timber-framed Buildings S and T
Building Q (see Phase 7) was substantially rebuilt as Building S
and subsequently went through a large number of renovations. Building P (see Phase 7) was rebuilt as
Building T but no appreciable occupation deposits built up within it. Building R (see Phase 7) also
underwent a number of alterations. The backyard area was used for dumping and pit digging. Some of the
pits were used as latrines while other pits had clear connections with metalworking.
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Building U
During this phase a new structure, Building U, was constructed on the western side of the
excavation area, on the Walmgate street frontage. The building was used for non-ferrous metalworking.
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Alterations to Building U and construction of
Buildings V, W and X
Within this phase the Walmgate street frontage buildings were redeveloped. Alterations were made
to Building U; the Phase 8 buildings, Buildings R and S, were demolished prior to the construction of
new buildings, Buildings V and W. Additionally, Building X was constructed in the south-western
corner of the excavation area, suggesting the insertion of a new lane (St Denys’ Road) and the development
of houses along its eastern side. The southern room of Building U and also Building W were used
for ironworking.
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Timber-framed Buildings U to Y
In this phase a number of changes occurred within the buildings that had been constructed in
Phase 9.2 (Buildings U, V and W). In addition, a new building
was constructed (Building Y), attached to the southern side of Buildings U and W. The northern
room of Building U was used as a smithy; ironworking also took place in Building W and the
southern room of Building U. Non-ferrous metal casting took place in Building W.
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Renovation of Buildings U, W and Y
Buildings U, W and Y were renovated, and all three buildings continued to be used for metalworking.
Building Y may have been used for storage or finishing work rather than smithing and casting.
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Metalworking and internal modifications to buildings
Modifications were made internally to Buildings U, V, W and Y. Metalworking took place in Buildings
U, W and Y, while Building V continued to serve as a hall. Both iron and copper alloy seem to have
been worked.
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Demolition of Building W and continuation of metalworking
In Phase 9.8 modifications were made to Buildings U, V and Y, Building W was demolished and a series
of intercutting pits and subsidence hollows were located to the east of the yard and to the east of
Building Y. Both ironworking and non-ferrous metalworking continued to take place in Buildings U and V.
Occupation continued in Phase 9.9 within an increasingly dilapidated Building Y, and further scattered
activity took place to the east of Building Y and within the yard.
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Modifications to existing buildings and the construction of Building Z
In Phase 10 a number of alterations were made to existing buildings (Buildings U, V and X). Further
alterations were made to Buildings U and V in Phase 11 and the yard area was extended to the south.
Within Phase 12 Building Z was constructed on the eastern side of the site and a number of modifications
were made to existing buildings (Buildings U and V). Phase 13 saw the conversion of existing Buildings
U and V into three tenements and the construction of a number of minor buildings in the backyard area.
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| © Copyright York Archaeological Trust 2003 |
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