St Mary's Lane, York: Archaeological Watching Brief Report

AOC Archaeology Group was commissioned to undertake an archaeological watching brief during groundworks for the construction of a granny annexe to the rear of St Mary's Lane, York. Machine excavation within the footprint of the new annexe was carried out under the archaeological supervision using a mini 360 degree excavator fitted with a smooth ditching bucket. Archaeological features were accurately located on a site plan and recorded by photographs, scale drawings and written descriptions. The works revealed the remains of a brick summerhouse or outbuilding that had originally been attached to the southern end of the perimeter walls of the garden. The summerhouse appears to be of late 19th century date, and appears as a garden feature on the 1891 Ordnance survey map. The excavations also revealed a series of buried garden soils which may have been deposited as landscaping during the construction of the present house.