AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL REPORT ON THE EXCAVATION OF YEARSLEY WATER MILL YEARSLEY MILL, PARISH OF YEARSLEY, NORTH YORKSHIRE Geoffrey Snowdon and Elizabeth Sanderson 16 July 2018 1 Contents List of Figures……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……..4 List of Sections………………………………………………………………………………………………………….5 Acknowledgements…………………………………………………………………………………………………..6 Abstract………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…7 Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………………………..………8 Aims and Objectives……………………………………………………………………………………. 8 Indication of Archaeological Significance Before Excavation………………………….8 Dates of Commencement and Termination of the Excavations………………………8 Location Data………………………………………………………………………………………………..9 Topography, Geology and Soils…………………………………………………………………...10 Context in Terms of Neighbouring Monuments and Local Artefact Distribution……………………………………………………………………………………………..….10 Historical Background………………………………………………………………………………………….….12 The Documentary Record………………………………………………………………………….…12 Maps and Boundaries……………………………………………………………………………….…16 The Tenants of Yearsley Mill………………………………………………………………………..20 Summary………………………………………………………………………………………………….….22 The Excavations………………………………………………………………………………………………………28 Trench 1……………………………………………………………………………………………….……..28 Trench 2………………………………………………………………………………………………………35 Trench 3………………………………………………………………………………………………………40 Trench 3A…………………………………………………………………………………………….………45 Trench 3B…………………………………………………………………………………………….………47 Trench 3C…………………………………………………………………………………………….………47 Trench 3D…………………………………………………………………………………………….………49 Trench 3E……………………………………………………………………………………………….……51 Trench 4………………………………………………………………………………………………………52 Post Excavation……………………………………………………………………………………………………….53 Finds……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….54 Ceramics………………………………………………………………………………………….………….54 Pottery…………………………………………………………………………………………….54 Clay Pipe…………………………………………………………….……………………………54 Tile………………………………………………………………………………………….…….…55 Brick…………………………………………………………………………………………….…..55 Drain Tiles………………………………………………………………………………….….…55 Glass……………………………………………………………………………………………………………56 2 Bottle Glass………………………………………………………………………….………….56 Window Glass…………………………………………………………………….……………57 Leather………………………………………………………………………………………….………….…57 Bone………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…58 Teeth……………………………………………………………………………………………………………58 Metal…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..58 Lead………………………………………………………………………………………………...59 Miscellaneous Non-Ferrous Metal……………………………………………………60 Worked Stone………………………………………………………………………………………………61 The Mill Related Worked Stone Assemblage…………………………………….61 The Prehistoric Flint Assemblage……………………………………………………..63 Miscellaneous………………………………………………………………………………………………72 Mortar………………………………………………………………………………………..……72 Organic Material……………………………………………………………………………..72 Other……………………………………………………………………………………………….72 Wood……………………………………………………………………………………………………..……72 Discussion and Conclusions…………………………………………………………………………………….77 The Construction of the Mill………………………………………………………….………...….77 The Working Life of the Mill…………………………………………………………………….….80 The Demise of the Mill…………………………………………………………………….…………..83 The Demolition and Subsequent Burial of the Mill……………………………………….85 Specialist Reports………………………………………………………………………………………………..….87 Palaeoenvironmental Analysis…………………………………………………………………….87 Bibliography…………………………………………………………………………………………………..….……98 Appendix: Context Index………………………………………………………………………………….…….99 3 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Location of the mill site……………………………………………………………………….…….9 Figure 2: Position of the mill and adjacent enclosures……………………………………………11 Figure 3: Agreement concerning common rights between Thomas Colvill and Thomas de Etton dated 8 July 1385 ……………………………………………………………………....13 Figure 4: Indenture concerning the purchase of land by Sir Nicholas Fairfax of Gilling dated 29 April 1559/60…………………………………………………………………………………….…….14 Figure 5: Possible boundaries of Gilling and Yearsley Moors as outlined in 1385 Agreement………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….17 Figure 6: 1952 Ordnance Survey map showing estate boundaries with positions of boundary stones…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………19 Figure 7: The topography and mixed woodland vegetation surrounding the site and the extant central wall line following the initial clearance procedures………………………………….…..23 Figure 8: Plan of the mill site showing the main features and context locations…………….…..25 Figure 9: Plan of the mill site showing the trench and section locations…………………..…….....26 Figure 10: Aerial view of the completed excavations on the mill site………………………………...27 Figure 11: Rock cut post hole with timber sole plate and upright post………………………….……28 Figure 12: Overlay showing the position of the waterwheel, cog wheel, main axle and support timbers………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………29 Figure 13: Overlay showing the position of the hurst frame and millstones (prepared by John K Harrison and Peter Morgan)…………………………………………………………………………………………....29 Figure 14: Post hole [50] cut into the floor of the building…………………………………………………30 Figure 15: Rock cut post hole [91] with base timber……………………………………………………..…..31 Figure 16: Western end of the waterwheel pit and cog pit showing the position of the two rock cut post holes [91] and [63] and the exposed bedrock surround……………………..…….…...31 Figure 17: Well preserved wood lying on the bed rock floor of the cog pit…………………………32 Figure 18: Millstone set into the bedrock floor…………………………………………………………….…….34 Figure 19: Recycled millstones forming the hearth……………………………………………………..……..36 Figure 20: The interior of the building showing the flagstone floor, the hearth, the oven/kiln, the doorway and a line of small post holes…………………………………………………………….……………39 Figure 21: Post hole at the western end of the waterwheel pit…………………….…………………...40 Figure 22: The full extent of the wheel pit and the first indication of the waterwheel and other associated timbers…………………………………………………………………………………..……..…….…..41 Figure 23: North and South facing elevations of the remains of the remains of the waterwheel within the wheel pit…………………………………..……………………………………………..…….42 Figures 24 and 25: The remains of the waterwheel after excavation………………………………….43 Figure 26: The mill entrance and access paths………………………………………………………………..….45 Figure 27: The large stones of the embankment with the soil and rubble layers in the foreground used to bury the site……………………………………………………………………………………..….47 Figures 28 and 29: Bedrock of the cog pit area exposed to show cuts [84] and [87]…………..48 Figure 30: The remains of the cog wheel……………………………………………………………………….…..49 Figure 31: Rock cut post hole [93] with sole plate timber running under the waterwheel pit wall……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………50 Figure 32: Test pit cut into the bank north of the tail race………………………………………….……...51 Figure 33: Test pit at the SE corner of the mill building, the soil and rubble layer under the topsoil……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……..…52 Figure 34: Restoration of the site……………………………………………………………………………….………53 Figure 35: Pipe Bowls……………………………………………………………………………………………….………..54 Figure 36: ‘Onion’ bottle…………………………………………………………………………………….………………56 Figure 37: Shoe or boot leather……………………………………………………………………………..…………..57 4 Figure 38: Small tankard…………………………………………………………………………….………………………60 Figure 39: Miniature quern stone……………………………………………………………………………………...63 Figure 40: Leaf Shaped Arrowhead…………………………………………………………………………………….63 Figures 41 & 42: Scrapers………………………………………………………………………………………..…………63 Figure 43: Sole board from the waterwheel…………………………………………………………………..…..73 Figure 44: Possible position of the original mill building…………………………………………..…..……79 Figure 45: Overlay provided by P. Morgan and J K Harrison showing the position of the waterwheel and machinery within the space of the original building………….……….……………..79 Figure 46: Plan showing the position of the second mill building………………………………….……81 Figure 47: Fragment of a crushing stone……………………………………………………………………..……..84 LIST OF SECTIONS Section 1: West facing section through the waterwheel pit and cog pit……….…….…33 Section 2: West facing elevation of the central wall…………………………………………….…37 Section 3: South facing section Tr. 2B east of wall (5)………………………………………….…38 Section 4: West facing section through the tail race……………………………………..……….44 Section 5: North facing section Tr. 3A…………………………………………………………………….46 5 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Yearsley Mill Research Project (YMRP) has been a voluntary community project, the successful completion of which would not have been possible without the long term commitment and dedication of the core excavation group: Gordon and Wendy Bennett, Lyn and Ken Gilding, Phil and Steve Bassett, Brian Walker, Di Prest, David Roberts and Judy Bradfield. Other invaluable assistance has been given by Katie Thorn, Cath Bashforth, John Illingworth, Dawn Haida, Steve Pratt, Pat Rowe, Linda Hencher and Tony Lacy. The enthusiastic contribution made to the excavation by the North York Moors Apprentices and their leader Steve Young has also been greatly appreciated. A second group of volunteers has also carried out the painstaking documentary research and thanks here must go to Mary Peters, Phil Bassett and Di Prest. Technical advice and assistance has been generously given to the project by numerous people and organisations, these include: Community Archaeologist Dr Jon Kenny, John K Harrison and Peter Morgan (mill specialists), Prof. Dominic Powlesland (orthophotography), John Hudson and