| Title: |
Former Whitehall Shipyard, Spital Bridge, Whitby, North Yorkshire. Report on an Archaeological Evaluation at Building Survey |
| Number of Pages: |
22 |
| Biblio Note |
Please note that this is a bibliographic record only, as originally entered into the BIAB database.
The ADS have no files for download, and unfortunately cannot advise further on where to access hard copy or digital versions.
|
| Publication Type: |
Report
|
| Abstract: |
A desk-based assessment, the excavation of five trenches, and archaeological monitoring of the excavation of twelve geotechnical test pits was undertaken. The Whitehall shipyard was established in the 18th century and closed in the early years of the 20th century. The buildings associated with the former shipyard site had been demolished and the site had been levelled. However, excavated evidence suggested that the lower parts of the major structures associated with the Whitehall Shipyard survived largely intact below ground level. This included buildings and shipbuilding and repair facilities. On the basis of the evidence from the limited areas examined these remains appeared likely to have spanned the late 18th-early 20th century. What below ground disturbance was apparent within the evaluation trenches appeared to relate primarily to the robbing of structures for the retrieval of high quality stone. This was particularly apparent with the dry-dock in Trench 3, whilst in Trench 4 the same phenomenon may have accounted for the loss of much timber floor. The only area examined in which below ground preservation was not good was at the extreme east of the site in the area of Trench 1. It appeared almost certain that here the levelling of the site had involved a reduction in ground level, hence the non-appearance of anticipated 19th century building remains in Trench 1. On the whole the excavated evidence pointed towards the below ground survival of extensive and well-preserved parts of a late 18th-19th century shipyard. In the northerly part of the site the remains of a building were revealed 0.3-0.5m below ground. This building may have formed part of a range which may have been related to the earliest surviving part of the sail loft. This building appeared to stand on the site which historic evidence suggested was the site of a medieval hospital. There was no evidence to suggest that the remains of the building in Trench 5 were part of this hospital. However, the reuse of a 15th century moulded stone within the fabric of the northern wall may have indicated that this building was constructed on the site of an earlier building, possibly reusing fabric from an earlier building, and possibly using similar construction techniques. Further excavation would be required to confirm the link of the remains in Trench 5 with the sail loft and to confirm the techniques of construction which had been surmised. Additional excavation might also help to establish whether a medieval building previously stood on this site. The bulk of the excavated deposits encountered at a high level were dry, though at depth waterlogged deposits were encountered. The survey of the few upstanding remains necessarily focused heavily on the river frontage. Perhaps the most significant feature there was the old stone quay in the northern part of the site. On the basis of cartographic evidence there was a good case to be made for this being of at least earlier 18th century date. A fair degree of understanding of the development of the shipyard could be gained from the synthesis of cartographic and excavate sources of evidence. Some of the structures and buildings depicted on maps were located on the ground. The maps in particular offered great insight into the steady westward advance of the shipyard as its expansion narrowed the course of the River Esk. A number of slipways, inlets and indented quays were depicted in these sources. Archaeologically, this process of land reclamation was attested by an extensive series of thick dumped deposits, which for the most part were derived from re-deposited natural materials. [Au(adp)] |
| Author: |
Rhona Finlayson
Mark Johnson
|
| Publisher: |
York Archaeology
|
| Year of Publication: |
2001
|
| Subjects / Periods: |
| 18th Century (Auto Detected Temporal) |
| Earlier 18th Century (Auto Detected Temporal) |
| 19th Century (Auto Detected Temporal) |
| 15th Century (Auto Detected Temporal) |
| Late 18thearly 20th Century (Auto Detected Temporal) |
| 20th Century (Auto Detected Temporal) |
|
MEDIEVAL
(Historic England Periods)
|
|
|
| Note: |
Date Of Issue From:
2001
Date Of Coverage From:
01
Date Of Coverage To:
01
Editorial Expansion:
Site name: FORMER WHITEHALL SHIPYARD, SPITAL BRIDGE, WHITBY
Study area: 2.3ha
Investigation type: Evaluation
District: Scarborough
Monument: POST HOLE. Post-medieval (1540-1901), QUAY. Post-medieval (1540-1901), BUILDING. Post-medieval (1540-1901), DRY DOCK. Post-medieval (1540-1901), FEATURE. Modern (1901-present), FEATURE. Post-medieval (1540-1901), FLOOR. Post-medieval (1540-1901), MOORING
Ngr: NZ89971025
Parish: Whitby
Postcode: YO224FH
|
| Source: |
BIAB
(Archaeological Investigations Project (AIP))
|
| Created Date: |
19 Jan 2009 |
