Investigation of Burgage Plots to the Rear of Number 9 High Street and the Town Hall, Off Jerry Croft, Skipton, North Yorkshire

Abstract

Prior to its redevelopment in the spring of 2013, a number of phases of archaeological work were undertaken on land to the rear of number nine High Street and the Town Hall, Skipton, North Yorkshire. High Street is one of the main medieval thoroughfares of the town and remnants of former burgage plots were discovered across the area. Ditches running counter to these features suggest they were constructed above an already developed landscape, which was radiocarbon dated to the early medieval period, elements of which were likely to have been visible at the time they were incorporated into the later settlement. Stray finds of prehistoric and Roman date indicate that there was activity in the area over a much longer period, but the site was dominated by remains of medieval date, which included over 700 sherds of pottery, large amounts of animal bone, and a silver finger-ring.

Keywords:

• Medieval burgage plots
• medieval pottery
• medieval settlement
• early medieval settlement
• boundary ditches
• Skipton

Acknowledgements

Greenlane Archaeology would like to thank Maple Grove Developments Ltd for commissioning the work, and in particular Allan Gundry for his help and information. Further thanks are due to Mark Moore at Craven District Council and Lucie Hawkins and Melanie Partlett, at North Yorkshire County Council, for their assistance and comments, and Rebecca Griffith, Finds Liaison Officer for North and East Yorkshire and Mr. RD Turnbuill, Coroner for Craven, Richmondshire, Selby and Harrogate districts, for their help with dealing with the silver ring found during the evaluation. Special thanks are due to the Skipton-in-Craven Civic Society for their help in providing information about the site, in particular Sue Wrathmell.

The archaeological fieldwork was carried out by Dan Elsworth, Tom Mace, and Ric Buckle, all of whom contributed to the original reports and processed finds and samples. Editing of the original reports and this publication was carried out by Jo Dawson at Greenlane Archaeology. Special thanks are due to Simon Milligan and colleagues at Eric Wright and staff from Harrison Plant for their assistance, cooperation, and good company on site during the occasionally harsh winter weather.

Other than those named in this report, specialist work for the project was carried out by Dr. Philip Mills (early ceramics), Kate Kenward, Margrethe Felter, and Nicola Rogers at York Archaeological Trust (assessment and conservation of metal artefacts), Dr. Gerry McDonnell (assessment of metal working residue) and Emeritus Professor David Shotter (assessment of the Roman coin). Further thanks are due to Tom Lord, Annie Hamilton Gibney, and Rosemary Stewart for their comments on the chert artefacts.