MINT YARD York Conservation Management Plan
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MINT YARD York Conservation Management Plan FINAL DRAFT Simpson & Brown Architects With Addyman Archaeology August 2012 Contents Page 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3 2.0 INTRODUCTION 11 2.1 Objectives of the Conservation Plan ...............................................................................11 2.2 Study Area ..........................................................................................................................11 2.3 Heritage Designations.......................................................................................................13 2.4 Structure of the Report......................................................................................................14 2.5 Adoption & Review...........................................................................................................15 2.6 Other Studies......................................................................................................................15 2.7 Limitations..........................................................................................................................15 2.8 Orientation..........................................................................................................................15 2.9 Project Team .......................................................................................................................15 2.10 Acknowledgements...........................................................................................................16 2.11 Abbreviations and Definitions.........................................................................................16 3.0 UNDERSTANDING THE MINT YARD 17 3.1 Introduction........................................................................................................................17 3.2 The Roman fortress (cAD71-c400)...................................................................................17 3.3 Anglian and Anglo-Scandinavian (l.C6th - Conquest).................................................21 3.4 The medieval hospital of St Leonard’s and the city’s defences...................................22 3.5 13th century – early 14th century expansion...................................................................29 3.6 The post-Reformation period – c.1675 ............................................................................32 3.7 Later 17th century – early 19th century.............................................................................33 3.8 Antiquarianism and civic improvement (1683-late 19th century)................................36 3.9 20th century - present.........................................................................................................38 3.10 Summary Chronology – Historical Development.........................................................60 4.0 GAZETTEER OF HERITAGE ASSETS: BUILDINGS & STRUCTURES 65 4.1 Introduction........................................................................................................................65 4.2 Multangular Tower, fortress wall to SE and associated features................................69 4.3 St Leonard’s Hospital ruin................................................................................................89 4.4 City Wall and Roman fortress wall from Multangular Tower to rear of number 8 St Leonard’s Place, with the Anglian Tower ....................................................................101 4.5 Later structures and features within the inner site area.............................................125 4.6 Central Library (York Explore)......................................................................................133 4.7 Wider medieval topography of St Leonard’s Hospital...............................................149 4.8 1-9 St Leonard’s Place......................................................................................................151 4.9 2 and 4 Museum Street....................................................................................................153 5.0 GAZETTEER OF HERITAGE ASSETS: OPEN SPACE CHARACTER AREAS 155 5.1 Introduction......................................................................................................................155 A Library Square..................................................................................................................157 B Library Lawn....................................................................................................................159 C Between the city walls and the Kings’ Manor .............................................................161 D Rear of the library within the city walls .......................................................................163 E Lane to the north east of the library ..............................................................................165 F Museum Gardens ............................................................................................................167 6.0 ASSESSMENT OF HERITAGE VALUE 171 6.1 Introduction......................................................................................................................171 6.2 Evidential Value...............................................................................................................172 6.3 Historical Value 177 6.4 Aesthetic Value 185 6.5 Communal Value 191 6.6 Summary Matrix..............................................................................................................197 Mint Yard, York – Conservation Management Plan – DRAFT 1 6.7 Summary of Significance ................................................................................................199 7.0 CONSERVATION ISSUES 205 7.1 Introduction......................................................................................................................205 7.2 Statutory & Non-Statutory Constraints........................................................................206 7.3 Ownership, Management & Use ...................................................................................209 7.4 Condition ..........................................................................................................................210 7.5 Archaeological Issues......................................................................................................213 7.6 Collections and Archives................................................................................................217 7.7 Vulnerability matrix ........................................................................................................219 8.0 CONSERVATION POLICIES 221 8.1 Introduction......................................................................................................................221 8.2 Resolution, Vision & Adoption......................................................................................221 8.3 Conservation Theory and Practice ................................................................................222 8.4 Retention of Significance ................................................................................................227 8.5 Polices for York Explore building..................................................................................229 8.6 Policies for Collections....................................................................................................241 8.7 Policies for ruins of St Leonard’s Hospital...................................................................241 8.8 Policies for other buildings and structures ..................................................................244 8.9 Materials............................................................................................................................252 8.10 Views .................................................................................................................................259 8.11 Archaeology .....................................................................................................................260 8.12 Access, Interpretation and Management......................................................................261 Appendix 1 - Bibliography 267 2 Mint Yard, York – Conservation Management Plan – DRAFT 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This conservation plan was initiated to inform design decisions in the city archives project, which is intended to move the York City Archives to the former York Central Library, now called York Explore. The relocation of the archives to the library is a logical step and it offers an opportunity to carry out works to the existing listed building which could both enhance its significance by works of repair and restoration, and also improve the way that it is interpreted and understood. The York Explore building was built at the centre of an area of very great historical significance for the history of York. The site is known as the Mint Yard, a name that stems from the use of former monastic buildings, dissolved during the Dissolution, by the Royal Mint. Its importance is indicated by the large proportion of the site and its structures which are a Scheduled Ancient Monument. Many of the buildings are also listed Grade I, with others at Grade II* and II. The site is also adjacent to the Museum Gardens which are a Registered Park and Garden. Each of the elements that make up the Mint Yard area has been assessed in detail, through visual inspection and documentary research. The heritage value of the site as a whole has been assessed following