Gill's Yard, Rishworth Street Wakefield, West Yorkshire: Archaeological Watching Brief

Wessex Archaeology was commissioned to carry out archaeological monitoring of the excavation of foundations, drainage and a storm water attenuation tank at the south-eastern end of Gill's Yard. The monitoring area was 200 sqm in size. Results from the watching brief were limited. Made ground deposits comprising clay and clayey sand were observed. These were Victorian and modern, and were between 1.6 and 2.2 metres thick. A wall of handmade brick, sandstone slabs and lime mortar was recorded, likely late 18th century or early 19th century in date. This wall likely formed part of a structure on the south-western side of Gill's Yard, visible in the 1854 edition of OS six inch maps for Yorkshire.