Blue Bridge Lane
&
Fishergate House
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The latest Anglian features at Blue Bridge Lane and Fishergate House appear to have been completely disused by the mid-9th century, after which there seems to have been a shift in the location of activity, and a marked decline in intensity. The ceramic material suggests a major break or diminution in occupation; much of the evidence for this period is based on the presence of Torksey Ware, made in Lincolnshire from the mid-9th century, although its presence in assemblages in York is normally associated with the later 10th century; York A Ware and D Ware were present in some features, and suggest a date before the mid-10th century, although little by way of occupation of late 9th to mid-10th century date can be identified confidently.
By far the best evidence for occupation of this date was identified within Intervention 1 at Fishergate House, in the form of a possible sunken-feature building associated with occupation hearths, a number of rubbish pits and scattered postholes. This activity, which has been assigned a broad late 10th century date, demonstrates that the area was given over to occupation following the decline of the Anglian settlement, when settlement shifted towards Coppergate. The Fishergate occupation is contemporary with Period 4 at Coppergate, and although peripheral, like many Anglo-Scandinavian sites, represents the beginnings of continuous occupation of the Fishergate suburb. At Blue Bridge Lane, however, only scattered postholes and a single pit were identified in Intervention 15, alongside single features in Intervention 16 and 24. The quantity of residual Torksey Ware in later features at Blue Bridge Lane might suggest the presence of Period 4 rubbish redeposited by later activity. So few features were securely dated to Period 4 at Blue Bridge Lane, however, that the material seems more likely to have arrived at the site during the importation of soils during Period 8.
Location of Period 4 features (Interactive SVG image)
Where visible, Structure 1 consisted of a well-defined possibly sub-rectangular feature (F177F), with sloping sides and a flat base, but disappearing beneath southern and western limits of investigation. Six sherds of Torksey Ware jars and bowls were recovered from the backfill of this feature, as well as single examples of Staxton Ware and York Glazed Ware, although these are likely to be intrusive from two medieval graves which cut F177F (Inhumations 142 and 157). A fragment of purple phylitte schist whetstone of probable Norwegian origin was also recovered (Dr G Gaunt, pers. comm.). The object represents an item from North Sea trade, and is therefore considered to affirm the post-9th century date for Structure 1. The backfill sealed a layer of trample (C1350F), which sat around the sides of the feature and in patches over the base, either abutting and respecting structural features, or cutting by other features within F177F.
The excavated form of F177F contained three features: two postholes, (F184F and F185F), and a cobble-lined hearth, F183F. F184F and F185F were no more than 0.10m deep and were situated in the northeastern corner and along the northern edge of F177F respectively. Located between these structural features was hearth (F183F), measuring c.0.8m x 0.05m, and identified as a spread of charcoal which appeared to have been contained in parts by ordered cobbles, many of which were fire-reddened and heat-cracked. The primary hearth fill contained burnt animal bone and clay and a sherd of burnt Torksey Ware. Environmental assessment of the hearth contents identified a large amount of charcoal belonging to roundwood and bark.
F183F, C1340F pre-excavation
Associated with this structure, both spatially and in terms of the ceramic content, were several rubbish pits, and a hearth (F161F). F161F was situated adjacent to F177F and was identified as a well-defined double-lobed feature, c.1.0m in diameter, which upon excavation, proved to have been filled with a deposit of cobbles, charcoal and burnt clay. Environmental assessment identified burnt grain, seeds and field bean within the charcoal as well as wood-ash. This deposit did not extend into the small southern lobe, which has been tentatively identified as a possible post-setting. One sherd of burnt York A Ware was recovered, suggesting a mid-9th century date, although F161F has been assigned to the slightly later mid-10th century phase due to its similarity in composition to F183F and its proximity to F177F.
F125F was located 3.20m to the north of Structure 1 and identified as a sub-rectangular feature measuring 1.50m x 1.00m. Its excavated form consisted mostly of undercut sides with a near-vertical eastern edge, and produced three sherds of Torksey Ware, residual Sandstone-tempered Ware, animal bone, smithing slag, a wound-wire silver finger-ring, a bone comb tooth and a river pebble spindlewhorl.
A similar rubbish pit, allocated F129F, was identified in the northwestern corner of Intervention 1, although it had been severely truncated by overlying medieval graves. It appeared as a sub-rectangular deposit of very dark greyish-brown clayey-silt and upon excavation, proved to be a steep-sided pit measuring 1.80m x 1.20m x 0.25m. The backfills contained a moderately large assemblage of Torksey Ware sherds which represented jars, a bowl, a lamp and a large container with direct thumbing. F129F cut an inhumation burial which has been radiocarbon-dated to the early 8th century, and represents the interspersing of domestic activity and inhumation during the Anglian and Anglo-Scandinavian periods (see The Cemetery).
A number of smaller pits identified within Intervention 1 have been ascribed to Period 4, representing scattered rubbish pits and evidence for occupation, and produced animal bone and further sherds of Torksey Ware.
Nearby, a small structural complex was identified and excavated, and while no Anglo-Scandinavian material was contained in the features, it cut into the backfilled Period 3 (mid-9th century) F64F to its east and was, in turn, cut by medieval graves. The feature has been allocated subsequently to the Anglo-Scandinavian complex, particularly since its method of construction, form, use and backfill were reminiscent of Structure 1. The main element of this feature (F104F) consisted of a small shallow sub-square concave scoop measuring 1.10m x 1.10m x 0.25m. The feature contained a thick layer of trample or occupation debris which included some charred material and calcined animal bone within a dark greyish brown silty clay matrix, all of which may represent redeposited hearth contents (C1202F). Two postholes and one stake hole were identified set within the base of F104F (F107F, F109F and F123F) and the posts and stake appeared in section to have been removed after the accumulation of C1202F.
F104F, F107F, F109F and F123F post-excavation
To the south, F231F was cut to its northwest by Period 8 F229F, but survived as a crescentic cut backfilled with a clean homogenous silty-clay which contained no dateable material but had been truncated by an overlying Period 7 grave, F228F. F231F measured c.0.65m in diameter, and up to 0.25m deep. To the south of this feature, a further possible hearth, F216F, was identified and excavated, revealing dimensions of 1.20m x 0.45m x 0.40m. The feature was filled with a charcoal-rich deposit, C1466F, which overlay an episode of possible collapse or deliberate clay lining, C1467F. Environmental assessment identified large quantities of burnt barley, oat and weed seeds contained in C1466F. The primary fill was sealed by a thick deposit of charcoal- and daub-rich clayey silt which represented the final disuse of the feature (C1456F); sinkage from the overlying buried soil was also noted. It is possible that F216F functioned as a drying pit for grain (barley and oats), as represented by the charred remains. The pit may also have had a superstructure of wattle and daub, as suggested by the contents of C1456F. Although only a small sherd of residual Roman pottery was contained in F216F, the feature appears to belong with the Anglo-Scandinavian domestic occupation rather than with any other period, particularly since other Anglo-Scandinavian features contained similar burnt grain and seeds.
A second suite of Period 4 features was located in Intervention 2 at Fishergate House, consisting of four postholes and a stakehole (F180F to F182F, F238F and F256F), although this allocation is not secure, relying principally on a single residual sherd of Torksey Ware and a fragment of Saxon reticella glass from a medieval grave, F250F, overlying posthole F256F. F180F to F182F were identified after the removal of buried Roman soil C1341F, although all were in a truncated state and it seems likely they were actually cut through the layer. F238F and F256F were defined after the excavation of all overlying graves and were also extremely truncated. All four postholes were small circular features, the deepest measuring 0.13m deep, and their distribution within Intervention 2 appeared to follow a slight curve. No dateable material was recovered from any of the features.
To the north of Blue Bridge Lane, only scattered evidence for Anglo-Scandinavian occupation has been identified, and again, features are dated primarily on the presence of Torksey Ware in backfill deposits; no convincing evidence was found on this side of Blue Bridge Lane for primary occupation. Features allocated to this phase were predominantly postholes (F112B, F181B, F256B, F314B, F480B, F523B to F526B) as well as a single pit, F460B and a possible well, F46B. The distances between the postholes are too great to relate to a single building, and as isolated features, they are difficult to interpret.
F112B was identified as a sub-rectangular feature measuring 0.35m x 0.42m x 0.04m, truncated by a modern drain (F47B). Its backfill contained pottery and an iron nail. Lying to the southwest of F112B was F181B, a circular posthole, measuring 0.30m across x 0.10m deep. F181B lay in close proximity to F46B, identified as a well, to which it may be related. F46B contained a small quantity of Period 4 pottery, although this was outweighed by sherds of Period 3 pottery. The date of its original excavation and final disuse is therefore not clear.
Blue Bridge Lane Period 4 features, post-excavation (Interactive SVG image)
A quantity of Anglo-Scandinavian pottery was recovered residually from features of later date; in most cases, the amounts of later ceramic were such that intrusion could not be proposed, nevertheless, the presence and quantity of Period 4 pottery is worthy of note. In addition to residual sherds of Anglo-Scandinavian ceramic, one sherd each of Stamford Ware and Torksey Ware were the latest sherds to be recovered from F46B; these have been tentatively identified as intrusive. Consequently, the feature has been assigned to Period 3, although its association with nearby posthole F181B, may suggest that it too belongs in Period 4. In Intervention 16, a small suite of features (F523B to F526B) was identified as belonging to Period 4.
The scattered postholes assigned to Period 4 had all been truncated and with the exception of F523B/524B; none were deeper than 0.10m. The exceptional structural features were F523B to F526B, which were reminiscent of the small structural complex of F103F and F104F within Fishergate House, although they are difficult to interpret, being restricted by the limits of Intervention 16. F256B was identified as a large construction cut containing seven cobble and stone rubble packing stones. A post appeared to have been deliberately removed and the void filled with a bone-rich clayey silt. F523B/F524B were located within Intervention 16 and cut an earlier, Period 3, pit (F520B). F523B consisted of a shallow scoop no greater than 0.20m deep, and was associated with posthole F524B, identified in its base. This posthole was well-preserved, measuring 0.22m x 0.28m x 0.65m deep. These features may relate to a more substantial structure beyond the limits of Intervention 16, as suggested by two further postholes F525B and F526B (identified in section as sealed by a Roman soil but likely to have been cut from the same horizon as F523B and F525B).
The sole associated non-structural feature, F460B, measured 1.20m x 1.10m x 0.20m in depth. A single sherd of Stamford Ware was recovered, and F460B was cut to its east by F459B, and contained a quantity of residual Anglo-Scandinavian ceramic, which may derive from this feature. An assemblage of animal bone was also recovered during excavation.
It seems probable that the Period 4 occupation at Fishergate House is contemporary with activity assigned to Period 4 at 46-54 Fishergate. At both sites activity can be attributed to the birth of the Fishergate suburb, which was inhabited in an unbroken sequence from the 10th century to the present day, albeit with varying levels of intensity.
Evidence from Fishergate House is clearer in terms of the archaeological evidence and the documentary evidence. The presence of early 10th and early 11th century burials at the site straddle the period of Anglo-Scandinavian occupation, which interrupts the sequence of burial at the site. This is hard to reconcile with other long-lived church sites and it would seem that the church that eventually became St Helen's, Fishergate experienced a stuttering start with burial continuous from the 11th century, but intermittent prior to that date. The granting of St Helen's Church and the 'toft in front' to the monks of Marmoutier in 1100AD clearly demonstrates that the thin plots of Anglo-Scandinavian landholdings laid down in most of York's oldest suburbs were also present at Fishergate.
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