| Description | An evaluation by trial trenching was undertaken by Field Archaeology Specialists (FAS) between 26th February and 7th April 2004 at the former Arriva bus depot on Northgate, Pontefract (centred on the above grid reference) in advance of development. The site is situated on the south side of Northgate and forms a rectangular area of land representing an area of 3440 square metres. The site is bounded by housing to the east and west.
The scheme of evaluation involved the excavation of thirteen evaluation trenches (Interventions 1 to 13 see report in file for location plan). Trenches were opened with a mechanical excavator fitted with a 1.20m wide toothless ditching bucket under archaeological supervision. Once an archaeological horizon was reached excavation was continued by hand.
Interventions 1, 2 and 4 measured 5m by 2m, interventions 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11 and 13 measured 2m by 2m and interventions 8 and 12 measured 8m by 2m.
No remains earlier than the 17th century were encountered during the evaluation. The earliest features present at the site were two consecutive brick clamps, dated by pottery to the mid 17th century, producing slop moulded brick, and a sinuous stone filled drain dated by brick to the 17th and 18th century. Prior to this, the site appeared to have undergone substantial truncation, evidenced by a consistent trampled overburden accompanying subsoil.
During the 18th to 19th centuries, large areas of the site were raised by the importation of soils, possibly associated with the construction of a mid 19th century malt kiln which was located on the street frontage of Northgate.
See report in file for a more detailed discussion of the results. |